Mars coalesces in postseason opener
MT. LEBANON — Mars’ play over the last three weeks of the regular season was erratic. The Planets alternated wins and losses in their final eight games and missed out on a chance to win the Section 2 title outright, tying Armstrong for the crown and had to settle for the No. 7 seed in the district playoffs.
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s WPIAL Class 5A first-round girls basketball playoff against Lincoln Park, the Planets could have stewed over what could have been. Instead, they focused their attention on what they can still achieve.
Mars used a stifling defense and hot shooting to overwhelm the Leopards, 56-29 at Mt. Lebanon High School.
Planets’ coach Dana Petruska sensed a change was needed in the mood of the team’s practices.
“We cut them short by 30 minutes, held scrimmages where the players were able to take out their frustration in a good way. It was light, but competitive.”
Not that Petruska was taking Lincoln Park lightly.
“They play great defense and recently, we’ve doubted ourselves when playing teams that are very good defensively,” she said. “They needed positive reinforcement.”
It came in the form of a solid first quarter as Olivia Donnelly’s two 3-pointers helped Mars take a 13-9 lead by the end of the period.
Then, in the second quarter, the Planets put the Leopards (18-5) on the ropes by outscoring them 16-4, making seven of 11 attempts from the floor.
“They played a zone against us and we were unselfish with the basketball,” said Donnelly, who joined teammate Alexis Cashdollar in scoring a game-high 17 points. “We knew the playoffs are a different situation and we regrouped.”
Mars (16-6) will face Oakland Catholic, which defeated Kiski Area, in a quarterfinal Friday at a site and time to be determined.
Lincoln Park never recovered from the second-quarter onslaught. Seven turnovers in the third period led to Mars holding a commanding 46-20 lead with eight minutes to play.
The mercy clock kicked in moments into the final quarter.
Mars’ dominance came despite the absence of Annalyn Isaacs, who played all season for Mars after her family moved into the district, but was still ruled ineligible for the playoffs. She supported her team from the bench Tuesday.
LINCOLN PARK 29
Sarah Scott 5 1-4 12, Mikayla Newsome 3 1-2 8, Zoe Mangus 1 0-0 2, Aizlyn Thompson 2 0-1 5, Sincere Conley 1 0-0 2, Emma Bogacki 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 2-7 29.
MARS 56
Ava Day 1 0-0 2, Vita Vargo 3 0-0 7, Alexis Cashdollar 8 1-1 17, Lauren Atwell 3 1-4 7, Olivia Donnelly 7 0-0 17, Carmella McDole 3 0-0 6, Mya Moore 0 0-0 0, Gianna DeLisio 0 0-0 0, Grace Zatezalo 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 2-5 56.
Lincoln Park 9 4 7 9 — 29
Mars 13 16 17 10 — 56
3-point goals: Lincoln Park 3 (Scott, Newsome, Thompson)
Friday: Mars vs. Oakland Catholic, quarterfinal, TBD
