ADAMS TWP — It was all about the shooting, and Steve Cress knew it.

The 6-foot-6 senior forward from Mars made a concerted effort in the offseason to work on that phase of his game.

In the end, it was well worth it as he won the Butler Eagle Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award for the second straight year.

Last season, Cress shared the honor with Knoch's Rob Briggs. Cress averaged 19.7 points a year ago, but bumped up to 21.7 this season.

Throw in 12.7 rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game, and Cress brought many diverse abilities to the Planets.

"Last year, I could shoot, but just not consistently," said Cress. "Last year, there was more driving to the basket. This year, I had more of a pull-up jumpshot.

"Every day in the summer, I took 250 form shots, then I'd shoot about one-half to one hour, just getting used to shooting the correct form,"Cress added.

Cress became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,208 points, surpassing Tim Frye, as well as setting the mark for points in a season with 517. He scored 452 last year.

Mars coach Rob Carmody could see Cress' development between his sophomore and junior seasons.

"Steve made a commitment to expand his game and be an all-around good basketball player," said Carmody.

"He'd try and get past the wing, create and get to the foul line. This year, he started shooting outside and got good medium-range shots from about 15, 17 feet.

"You couple that with his size and athletic ability, and. like I said at the end of the year, his best basketball is still ahead of him,"Carmody added.

Cress also finished his Mars career with more than 700 rebounds and 100 blocked shots and was second in free throws made.

The idea of being the school's all-time leading scorer or having the success he has was a distant thought for Cress growing up. It began to dawn on him only in the past two seasons that he could do it.

"I thought I'd be able to score a decent amount of points," said Cress. "Early in my career, I never thought I'd do it. It was so far away.

"Looking back, as a three-year starter and after last season, I thought I had a decent shot. I knew I could get the single season (redord) because I was close as a junior,"Cress added.

Cress also helped the Planets reach the postseason, where they suffered a heartbreaking 51-50 loss to Mount Pleasant in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

"It was nice getting another game," said Cress. "If we would have won, maybe we'd have a nice run. It was good for the young guys to have that playoff experience."

Cress is hoping to make his college choice soon. He counts Slippery Rock University and Edinboro among the top choices, while Mercyhurst, Indiana (Pa.) and Clarion have been in recent contact.

Carmody said Cress hasn't scratched the surface on the full player he can become.

"Any school that gets him is getting a steal athletically," said Carmody. "He's a top-flight athlete who will prove he can get better."

Here is how voting for the Butler Eagle Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award, which was conducted by the Eagle sports staff, broke down:<B>Player, Team.........................Points</B>Steve Cress, Mars..........................15Scott Booth, Union...........................8C.J. Brown, SV..................................4Zack Ejzak, SR..................................4Rob Briggs, Knoch..........................1