ADAMS TWP — Just when Shaler had designs on a comebacks, Mars destroyed such a plan.

Rather quickly.

The Titans (5-12) pulled within 41-32 on a pair of Bayleigh Perez free throws early in the fourth quarter of their girls basketball game Saturday afternoon in the Mars gym.The Planets (15-4) responded with four treys — one by Ava Black and Vitaliana Vargo, two by Olivia Donnelly — in a two-minute span. The 12-0 flurry sparked Mars to a 57-41 victory.

“We have a lot of players who can shoot from outside,” Mars junior guard Donnelly said. “It’s fun when everybody gets involved.”

Five Mars players combined to sink 10 treys in the victory. The Planets shot 50% from the field (22 of 44) in the win.

The majority of the treys came through Mars’ inside-out game, triggered by post player Ava Black. The senior posts up, receives the pass and decides whether to make a move to the basket or kick the ball back outside to one of her teammates.

“Ava is a four-year starter and her experience definitely plays into it,” Mars coach Dana Petruska said. “She makes the right decision with the ball and we trust her to make those right decisions.

“Her experience that way has been a big part in the success we’re having this year.”

Black tallied 15 points Saturday, sinking two treys herself. She also had six assists and grabbed six rebounds.

“When I get the ball down low, I get doubled quite a bit,” Black said. “When I feel two defenders on my shoulders, I know one of my teammates has to be open. They can all shoot, so I just find the one that’s open.”

Vargo, a freshman, had 13 points, three assists and three rebounds for the Planets. Donnelly had 13 points, five assists and four boards.

Shaler had a 34-21 edge in rebounding, but struggled to score from the outside. Mackenzie Barr led the Titans with 12 points and seven rebounds while Hanna Dejidas had 12 points. Haley Kostorick scored 11 points.

Saturday’s win helped to wipe the taste of Thursday night’s 48-26 loss to section leader Indiana out of the Planets’ mouths.

“We didn’t play anywhere near like we’re capable of playing that night,” Black said.

Petruska was happy to see her team play more aggressively on defense in Saturday’s win.

“We were called for more fouls today than we were in our previous two losses combined,” the coach said. “That shows we were more active and aggressive. We’re too passive on defense at times and that can get us in trouble.”

Mars never trailed Saturday, taking an eight-point lead into halftime and building a double-digit lead in the third period before the flurry of treys early in the fourth put the game away.

“We played together today,” Donnelly said. “That’s when we’re at our best.”

SHALER 41

Bayleigh Perez 0-6 2-2 2, Haley Kostorick 5-14 0-2 11, May Engle 1-2 0-0 2, Bella Battaglia 0-7 0-2 0, Hanna Dejidas 5-11 0-0 12, Ella Katona 0-0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Barr 5-8 2-4 12, Bethany Rodman 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 17-49 4-10 41.

MARS 57

Alexa McDole 3-8 0-0 , Vitaliano Vargo 5-10 0-0 13, Ava Black 5-6 3-4 15, Kaitlyn Pelaia 2-4 0-0 5, Olivia Donnelly 5-10 0-0 13, Kylee Fredricks 1-3 0-0 2, Claire Guinee 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Atwell 0-0 0-0 0, Avery Bennett 1-3 0-1 2, Allie Rice 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-44 3-5 57.

Shaler 7 10 13 11 — 41

Mars 14 11 16 16 — 57

3-point goals: Shaler 3 (Kostorick, Dejidas 2), Mars 10 (McDole, Vargo 3, Black 2, Pelaia, Donnelly 3)

JV: Shaler, 27-23 (S: Noelle Roth 8, M: Carmella McDole 7)

Friday: Mars at Plum