Mars boys come up short against Central Valley
MOON TWP — Hanging in against the WPIAL champions wasn't a problem for Mars, but regaining the lead was.
The Planets' boys basketball team continuously made runs at Central Valley in Friday night's PIAA Class AAA first-round playoff game and trailed by just four points with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. But the Warriors closed the game on a 12-5 spurt and ended Mars' season with a 67-56 decision at Moon High School.
“There was a lot of pressure on them tonight, but there's a reason why they are the WPIAL champs,” said Planets' coach Rob Carmody of the Warriors. “In their last two games (the WPIAL semifinals against Thomas Jefferson and finals against Chartiers Valley), they were down late and came back and won. That's a credit to their kids and coaching staff.”
It was a bucket by Mars sophomore center John Castello that had the Planets down just 55-51, but the Warriors scored the next seven points to take a double-digit lead and hit several free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Despite an inspired effort, which included a 10-of-20 effort from the field in the first half, 27 turnovers doomed the Planets (15-10). Only four came in the fourth period, but that's four possessions they would like to have back.
“We just stayed in our base defense and hoped to drain them a bit,” said Warriors' coach Brandon Ambrose. “That's what happened in the end.”
Mars jumped out to a 16-9 first-quarter lead, but Central Valley closed the period on a 7-0 run to tie the game. The Planets' last lead of the game came when senior guard Owen Nearhoof hit a three-pointer for a 27-24 edge with 2:45 remaining in the second quarter. Central Valley rebounded to lead 29-27 at the break.
Senior center Matt Kline, who scored just two points on free throws in the first half, managed 13 points in the third and fourth quarters for the Warriors (23-3). Michael Sims led the team with 17 points and John George scored 10.
“If certain guys are struggling, others are able to step up and take the bull by the horns,” said Ambrose.
In his final high school game, Nearhoof scored a game-high 25 points, including a trio of conventional 3-point plays in the second half.
“We had a tough time with him,” Ambrose said. “He's a veteran guard and he's smart. He muscled his way to the hoop a lot tonight.”
Castello added 14 points for Mars, which entered this season with four new starters.
“I've been coaching basketball for 20 years,” said Carmody. “I don't know if I've ever walked out of a locker room more proud of a group of kids. Everybody expected us to take a step back, but these kids kept fighting and kept battling. They are winners.”
MARS 56
Alex Gruber 2 0-0 4, Owen Nearhoof 6 10-13 25, John Castello 4 6-7 14, Christian Schmitt 0 1-2 1, Nick DeCamp 1 0-1 3, Ryan Giallonardo 2 2-3 6, Bailey Trzeciak 1 0-0 3, Ethan Lewis 0 0-2 0, Austin Fetsko 0 0-0 0, Brett Kloc 0 0-0 0, Nate Sablowski 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 19-28 56.
CENTRAL VALLEY 67
John George 3 3-4 10, Jacob St. George 4 0-2 8, Tony Gates 2 4-5 8, Brian Kolich 0 1-2 1, Michael Sims 6 4-6 17, Chris Anastas 3 2-5 8, Matt Kline 5 5-7 15, Dante Lucci 0 0-0 0, B.J. Powell 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 19-31 67.
Mars 16 11 13 16 — 56
Central Valley16 13 18 20 — 67
3-point goals: Mars 5 (Nearhoof 3, DeCamp, Trzeciak); Central Valley 2 (George, Sims).
