ADAMS TWP — Austin Fetsko is a senior playing behind a pair of sophomores.

Instead of grousing about such a fate, Fetsko has accepted his role on the Mars boys basketball team, kept his head down and his work ethic high.

It's a lunch-pail approach that has served him well. And it also prepared him for the final minute he had against rival Knoch Tuesday night.

Fetsko made an acrobatic, scoop layup and drew a foul with the Planets down by three late against the Knights. He sank the free throw to tie the game and then, on the other end of the court, punched the ball free, chased it down, pump faked and hit a short bank shot to send the home Mars fans into a frenzy and the Planets to a dramatic 40-38 Section 1-AAA win over Knoch.

“He hasn't complained. He hasn't said, 'When is it my turn,'” said Mars coach Rob Carmody of Fetsko. “He hasn't stopped coming to practice and working hard.”

Fetsko was called upon late when Mars sophomore point guard Christian Schmitt fouled out.

Fetsko said he is always mentally prepared to play.

“It's what's best for the team,” he said. “The starting five have been playing very well and coming off the bench is all right for me. I can see what's going on in the game and how the game is being played and when I come in, I can help contribute to the team.”

Fetsko said he hasn't attempted a scoop layup like that all year.

“When I let it go, I didn't know what was going to happen,” Fetsko said. “When it went in, I got pumped up and it fueled our team.”

Fetsko's heroics capped a defensive struggle, the sort of game that usually favors Knoch.

But the Knights were playing catch-up for most of the night.

Knoch (11-2, 5-1) trailed by 10 midway through the first half and, after a quick six-point spurt to start the third quarter to close the gap to 25-24, the Knights fell behind by nine early in the fourth quarter.

Knoch, though, went on a 12-0 run to take a 38-35 lead.

Then Fetsko happened.

Knoch coach Ron McNabb was pleased with how his team was able to rally from deficits.

“I like the way we started the third quarter,” McNabb said. “We showed a lot of resiliency.”

It looked as if Knoch was going to pull it out late. The Knights had a three-point lead and the ball, but a turnover set up the Fetsko three-point play. Another turnover forced by Fetsko led to the game-winner by the Mars senior guard.

“It's uncharacteristic for us. That killed us,” McNabb said. “We're usually really good caretakers of the ball. I'm not blaming our guys. Mars forced us into a lot of that.

“We're up 38-35. Our ball. in the bonus,” McNabb said. “I liked our chances.”

Mars (7-5, 4-1) forced Knoch to turn the ball over 18 times, including seven during an eight-possession stretch during the third quarter.

For Mars, it was proof it could play any style and win.

“Their defense was excellent — 40-38 definitely benefitted them,” Carmody said. “What it hopefully gives our guys is the confidence that, if we have to, we can grind a game out.”

John Castello and Ethan Lewis each scored 10 points to lead the Planets.

Mars senior Owen Nearhoof, who came into the night averaging 20 points per game, was held to four on 1-of-10 shooting.

Chris Kier was charged with guarding Nearhoof.

“Chris Kier always has the other team's best player,” McNabb said. “Chris is just a lock-down guy. He doesn't have exceptional quickness, but he has great footwork and he's always in the right spot.”

Matt Zanella led Knoch with 18 points.

But it was the five from Fetsko that were key to the outcome of this rivalry game.

“Knoch is a great team,” Fetsko said. “But we found a way to win. It gives us a lot of fuel the rest of the season.”

KNOCH 38

Austin Miller 1-9 0-1 2, David Gallagher 2-7 0-0 6, Stephen Oblich 1-1 1-2 3, Matt Zanella 9-15 0-2 18, Chris Kier 2-4 0-0 5, Aidan Albert 0-1 0-0 0, Jim Larrimer 2-4 0-0 4, Connor Shinsky 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-41 1-5 38.

MARS 40

John Castello 4-10 2-2 10, Nick DeCamp 1-5 0-1 3, Owen Nearhoof 1-10 2-2 4, Ethan Lewis 3-5 3-4 10, Christian Schmitt 2-3 1-1 7, Austin Fetsko 2-4 2-3 6, Bailey Trzeciak 0-0 0-0 0, Brett Kloc 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 13-38 10-13 40.

Knoch 11 7 8 12 — 38

Mars13 12 7 8 — 40

3-point goals: Knoch 3 (Gallagher 2, Kier); Mars 4 (DeCamp, Lewis, Schmitt 2)

JV: Knoch 41-38 (K: Mac Christy 16; M: Trzeciak 9)

Today: Mars at Highlands

Friday: Knoch at Freeport