ADAMS TWP — The Mars boys basketball team has a slew of potent outside shooters.

But it has been the play of a big man inside that has made a big difference already this season for the Planets.

Josh Goetz, whose nickname is “Big Bird,” was clumsy during his early years in a Mars basketball uniform. As a freshman, he already wore a size 16 shoe.

This year, there is nothing blunderous about the 6-foot-8 senior center.

Goetz scored 18 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots to help Mars beat previously unbeaten Montour 71-68 Wednesday night.

“Josh had a big game. A gigantic game,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody.

Perhaps just as important as the points, the rebounds and the blocked shots, Goetz has demanded attention inside, which has left the Mars snipers open on the perimeter.

The Planets (4-1) hit eight 3-pointers against Montour and all of them were huge.

“It’s the old adage: If you can establish yourself at the rim, the outside is going to open up,” Carmody said. “When that ball goes inside and then comes back out, that’s the best time to take a 3.

“Josh is not only a willing passer,” Carmody added, “he’s a good passer.”

Mars, though, started slowly against Montour (5-1), falling behind 19-9 with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

But the Planets closed the frame with five consecutive points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Zach May, to cut the lead to 19-14.

Mars then went on a 7-2 run to start the second quarter to pull even at 21-21.

After that, there were 14 lead changes. The Planets didn’t get the lead for good until it was 66-65 with 1:24 remaining in the game.

May was thrust into the starting lineup in the place of Owen Nearhoof, who sat out the game with an injury.

“(May) is just one of those guys like the old Detroit Pistons had in Vinnie Johnson, the microwave, coming off the bench,” Carmody said. “That’s Zach. When he comes off the bench, he’s ready to go and brings so much intensity. It was different for him starting tonight, but he hit some big shots.”

Garrett Ashbaugh also had a strong game for Mars with 17 points. Mitch Buzard added 11 for the Planets.

Devin Wilson led all scorers with 26 points for Montour. Wilson was 11-of-12 shooting on the night, but just 2-of-7 from the free throw line.

The Spartans made just seven of their 16 free throw attempts in the game.

Mars has had no shortage of high pressure games in a playoff-like atmosphere this season. The Planets have played Seneca Valley, Hampton and now Montour in packed gyms and have won two of those contests.

“This is what we wanted to do,” Carmody said.

Mars 62, Montour 38 (girls)

Mars was up 42-17 and cruising.

Then, for a little more than a quarter against Montour, the Planets let their guard down.

Suddenly the huge lead had shrunk to 44-30.

No worries. Mars regrouped for a rout against the Spartans.

“We kind of lost a little bit of our aggressiveness and that took our edge off a little bit,” said Mars coach Tony Howard. “I give them credit. They kept playing hard.”

The Planets (2-3) led 19-2 in the first quarter and 36-14 at the half.

Ali Goetz scored 16 points and Sara Getsy added 15 for Mars.

Howard was pleased with the defensive effort.

“The last two or three games our defense has been really good,” Howard said. “Our goal is always to keep a team under 40. That’s kind of my philosophy going forward. No matter what happens on offense, do what you do best. Play defense because that’s the strength of our team.”

Boys

MONTOUR 68

Devin Wilson 11-12 2-7 26, Kevin Scuilli 5-9 0-0 14, Rob Julian 1-5 0-0 2, Justin Hill 5-12 0-4 12, Kule Kutchman 1-1 0-0 2, Lamontae Harrison 2-7 5-5 10, Josh Randall 1-1 0-0 2, Devon Johnson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 26-49 7-16 68.

MARS 71

Garrett Ashbaugh 4-5 6-10 17, Matt Getsy 3-8 0-0 6, Mitch Buzard 3-11 4-4 11, Zach May 5-8 1-2 15, Josh Goetz 7-10 4-7 18, Alex Locher 2-4 0-0 4, Ben Erdahl 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-46 15-23 71.

Montour 19 11 18 20—68

Mars15 16 19 22—71

3-point goals: Montour 9 (Wilson 2, Scuilli 4, Hill 2, Harrison). Mars 8 (Ashbaugh 3, Buzard, May 4)

Friday: Mars at Freeport

Girls

MONTOUR 38

Morgan Haas 1-5 1-2 3, Emily Diecks 2-9 6-8 10, Marisa Gerst 7-15 1-5 15, Julia Disallie 0-1 0-0 0, Taliah Banal 1-7 0-0 2, Abigail Vietmeier 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Celich 1-1 0-0 2, Emily Mastroianna 1-9 0-0 3, Ally White 0-3 3-4 3, Jane Schleleicher 0-5 0-0 0. Totals: 13-55 11-19 38.

MARS 62

Sara Getsy 5-14 4-5 15, Teresa Dallatore 2-6 0-0 5, Jess Bunner 1-3 0-0 2, Alyssa Mathews 1-5 0-0 2, Ali Goetz 7-11 2-6 16, Daniella Paras 3-10 6-7 12, Paige Castera 0-1 0-0 0, Bonnie Workman 1-2 0-0 3, Gabby Kosobucki 3-5 1-1 7, Elyssa Paras 0-0 0-1 0, Elisa Sheehy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-57 13-20 62.

Montour 4 10 12 12—38

Mars21 15 6 20—62

3-point goals: Montour 1 (Mastrioianna). Mars 3 (Getsy, Dallatore, Workman)

Today: Mars at Freeport