ADAMS TWP — Mars scored a mere six points in a 16-minute stretch.

It committed 15 turnovers and it nearly squandered a 13-point first-half lead.

But it won. Again.

Such has been the charmed life of the Planets girls basketball team lately. Even when things go wrong, they find a way to make them right.

That was evident in a 45-41 win on senior night over rival Knoch Thursday.

"I don't know if they throw the ball over the place to make me crazy," said Mars coach Dave Sylvester. "I think we threw the ball away four or five straight trips down the floor. But it was good to win a game like this."

Mars (21-2, 13-1) has won in all sorts of different ways on the way to the section championship, and it kept two long streaks alive Thursday night.

The Planets have now won 13 straight games, their last loss coming in December against Seneca Valley. Mars also has won 18 straight against Knoch.

"Games like this between two good basketball teams, it usually comes down to a play here or a play there," said Knoch coach Curt Vasas.

Early on, it looked like Mars was going to run the Knights out of the gym.

The Planets scored the first seven points of the game and led 25-12 midway through the second quarter before the wheels came off of their offense.

Mars spent the next 16 minutes in an epic — and nearly disastrous — scoring drought.

Meanwhile, Knoch (15-6, 9-4) crept back into the game and trailed by just two points, 29-27, late in the third quarter.

But the Knights failed to score on three consecutive possessions.

"Lizz (King) got a good look at a 3 and it rimmed out," Vasas said. "As everyone knows, it's becoming a pattern against Mars. It's not just the losses, it's the way we've been losing."

Sylvester likes the way his team has been winning.

Challenged by Knoch, Mars responded with a 10-2 run to rebuild a comfortable cushion.

Two late 3-pointers by Knoch's Pam Gagen and King made the game look closer than it was in the end.

Haley Geyer was a vital element for Mars again. Whenever the Planets needed a big shot to stem Knoch's momentum, she hit it. Geyer, one of six seniors honored before the team's final home game, finished with 13 points.

"The last five games, she has just been unbelievable," Sylvester said. "She's just matured so much as a player."

Another senior, point guard Megan Gibson, also had a strong game.

She took just one shot, but she isn't asked to shoot. She did have eight assists.

"Megan does all the stuff no one else wants to do," Sylvester said.

Mars will play a nonsection game against quad-A Mt. Lebanon Monday in a playoff tune-up.

Knoch has two more games left, including a big one Saturday against Valley that could affect the Knights' postseason seeding significantly.

"Everyone is disappointed losing this game," Vasas said. "But I told them they have to forget about the negative things that happened to them and concentrate on the positive."

KNOCH 45Megan Gray 3-6 4-4 10, Abby Marshall 2-10 0-0 4, Pam Gagen 2-9 3-4 8, Kristen Gagen 1-1 0-0 2, Sara Montgomery 1-4 0-0 2, Sarah Cooper 2-3 0-0 4, Lizz King 4-10 0-0 11.

Totals: 15-43 7-8 45

MARS 41Justin Funk 0-0 0-2 0, Megan Gibson 0-1 2-2 2, Cara Hudac 1-3 1-2 3, Vanessa Pappas 0-1 0-0 0, Rachel Pinkerton 0-0 0-0, Haley Geyer 5-11 0-0 13, Elaine Hasek 0-0 1-2 1, Karly Takach 1-6 5-6 8, Lily Grenci 3-5 3-3 9, Maggie Bulman 4-11 1-4 9.

Totals: 14-38 13-21 41

Knoch 10 9 8 14—45Mars 14 12 5 14—413-point goals: Knoch 4 (Pam Gagen, King 3); Mars 4 (Geyer 3, Takach)

JV: Mars 16-12

Saturday: Valley at Knoch

Monday: Mt. Lebanon at Mars