ADAMS TWP — Seneca Valley's box-and-one defense did its job in the first half.

The second half, however, belonged to the Mars offense.

After managing just 15 points in the first 16 minutes against SV's defense, which was geared toward slowing down Mars senior guard Christian Locher, the Planets boys tallied 38 points in the second half of a 53-47 win over the Raiders in the championship of the Mars Holiday Tournament Tuesday night.

SV junior forward Matt Smith was entrusted with following Locher, who was held to 10 points.

It wasn't the first time the Planets had encountered the box-and-one.

“This was the third game in a row that we've seen it,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “We're used to it, but the problem in the first half was the rest of our guys were just standing around. Seneca Valley is too good, too big and too physical to do that.”

“You can go up-tempo against Mars or you can try to force them into a half-court game,” said Raiders coach Vic Giannotta. “In the first half, (the Planets) seemed to be fine with playing halfcourt.”

Mars (7-1) needed somebody else to step up and several players answered the call in the second half.

On the short end of a 33-25 score late in the third quarter, Owen Nearhoof drained a pair of 3-pointers and Ben Erdahl's field goal with six seconds left in the period tied the game at 33-all.

Five combined free throws from Garrett Ashbaugh, Nearhoof and Jake Lee, along with baskets from Locher and Brad Weischedel, helped the Planets to a 46-41 edge with 2:38 left.

Beau Barclay pulled SV (4-3) to within three points, but the Raiders got no closer.

SV had just nine turnovers, but three of them came in the decisive final quarter to go with a 5-of-16 (31.2 percent) shooting performance.

“We still don't understand that every possession is important,” said Giannotta.

Christian Durbin led the Raiders with 19 points and Austin Bream contributed 10.

Nearhoof scored 13 to lead Mars, including three 3-pointers.

The Raiders were represented on the All-Tournament Team by Durbin and Alex Maxfield.

Mitch Buzard was so named for the Planets, while Locher was named MVP after scoring 33 points in the two games.

SENECA VALLEY 47Beau Barclay 4 0-0 8, Christian Durbin 7 5-6 19, Chad Albert 1 0-0 2, Pat Kulp 1 0-0 2, Alex Maxfield 2 1-2 6, Austin Bream 4 1-3 10, Matt Smith 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 19 7-11 47.

MARS 53Jake Lee 0 1-2 1, Christian Locher 4 2-4 10, Brad Weischedel 2 3-4 8, Garrett Ashbaugh 1 6-8 9, Mitch Buzard 2 3-6 8, Ben Erdahl 1 0-0 2, Alex Locher 1 0-2 2, Owen Nearhoof 4 2-2 13.

Totals: 15 17-28 53.

Seneca Valley 10 12 11 14—47Mars 9 6 18 20—533-point goals: Seneca Valley 2 (Maxfield, Bream); Mars 6 (Nearhoof 3, Buzard, Ashbaugh, Weischedel).

Tuesday: Seneca Valley at North Hills; Burrell at Mars