MONROEVILLE — Mars picked the wrong day for its shooting to go away.

The Planets shot less than 25 percent (11 of 46) from the floor in the first three quarters Saturday in suffering a 46-39 WPIAL Class AAA girls basketball tournament loss to Laurel Highlands at Gateway High School.

“That's the way this game can go,” Mars coach Tony Howard said. “There are days when you can't put it in the ocean. This was one of those days for us.

“We got off to a sluggish start and our offense never did get into a rhythm. We weren't very hard to defend today.”

The Planets (14-9) scored only four points in the first quarter and sank just six of 26 shots in the first half.

Kelsey Pelles was the only Mars player to get to the free throw line all day. She sank three of four from the charity stripe. Laurel Highlands (14-9) sank 13 of 22.

“This was the type of game we anticipated,” Fillies coach Amy Tungate said. “Our teams play a similar style ... We knew this would be a grinder kind of a game.”

Laurel Highlands' biggest lead was 10 points (28-18) with 4:55 left in the third quarter. Mars never led in the game, but did creep within 39-38 with 2:39 remaining in the contest.

The Planets got the ball back on a turnover, but failed to convert. Laurel Highlands held a 42-39 lead when point guard Caitlin Wontroba was fouled with 51 seconds to play.

Wontroba sank both free throws and Maggie Kirchbaum added two points from the charity stripe with 18 seconds left to seal the win.

“We fought back and gave ourselves a chance at the end despite not playing our best ball,” Howard said. “That shows how hard we played.”

Mars was held to below 40 points for the seventh time this season,. The team averaged 44.9 points per game.

“I wasn't surprised this was a low scoring game,” Howard said. “This is the playoffs. That means physical, scrappy basketball.”

Pelles had 13 points and eight rebounds for Mars. Meghan Kelly added 10 points — all in the second half — while Liz Tumminello had eight rebounds.

Alexa Lee scored eight points, including two treys, but was held to three field goal attempts and no points in the second half.

“Mars has some offensive weapons in the Pelles girl inside and a couple of good outside shooters,” Tungate said. “We did a good job limiting their opportunities.”

Wontroba had 16 points and five rebounds, Brandi Liptock 13 points and 12 boards for the Fillies.

Both teams had 16 turnovers.

The loss spelled the end of prep hoop careers for Mars' five senior starters: Carly Clark, Kelly, Lee, Pelles and Tumminello.

“Laurel Highlands outhustled us today. They beat us to the loose balls and outrebounded us (44-39),” Howard said. “It's hard saying goodbye to our senior starters. They've all been with us for four years.

“We have girls waiting in line. It will be their turn to rise to the occasion and get us back here again next year.”

LAUREL HIGHLANDS 46Shannon Smitley 0-3 0-0 0, Haley Moreland 4-14 0-1 8, Jordan Homer 0-0 2-2 2, Caitlin Wontroba 5-11 5-5 16, Maggie Kirchbaum 1-6 3-6 5, Marissa Erminio 1-3 0-3 2, Brandi Liptock 5-11 3-5 13.

Totals: 16-48 13-22 46.

MARS 39Carly Clark 0-7 0-0 0, Meghan Kelly 5-7 0-0 10, Alexa Lee 3-11 0-0 8, Kelsey Pelles 5-16 3-4 13, Liz Tumminello 3-11 0-0 6, Randi Francis 1-7 0-0 2, Teresa Dallatore 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-59 3-4 39.

Laurel Highlands 10 13 9 14—46Mars 4 12 10 13—393-point goals: Laurel Highlands 1 (Wontroba); Mars 2 (Lee 2).