Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team will take on the Gateway Gators in the quarterfinals of the 2017-2018 PIAA Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, at Canon McMillan High School (Canonsburg, Pa.).

The Lady Planets tamed the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars 61-53 in the second round of the PIAA playoffs on March 14 and grounded the Obama Academy Eagles 60-33 in the first round on March 10. Despite a 48-44 loss to the Oakland Catholic Eagles in the WPIAL semifinals on Feb. 28, the team placed fourth overall and qualified for the state playoffs.

The team defeated the Hampton Talbots 48-41 in the WPIAL quarterfinals on Feb. 24 and routed the Uniontown Red Raiders 54-33 in the first round of play on Feb. 16. The Planets ended the 2017-2018 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 11-1 in section play, tying with Hampton for the Section 4-5A title.

Tickets for all PIAA quarterfinal games are $6 for adults and $3 for students and are available for purchase from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Mars Area High School’s Athletic Office. (Note: No student tickets will be sold at the gate.)

For more information, call (724) 625-9380 or visit www.piaa.org.