Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team will take on the Elizabethtown Area Bears in the first round of the 2020 PIAA Class 5A Boys Basketball Championship at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at Valley Junior/Senior High School (New Kensington, Pa.).

Despite a 52-51 loss to the Laurel Highlands Mustangs in the WPIAL Final on Feb. 28, the Fightin’ Planets took second place and qualified for the state competition. The team broke the Chartiers Valley Colts 59-50 in the WPIAL Semifinals on Feb. 25; and tamed the South Fayette Lions 57-44 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals on Feb. 21.

The team ended the 2019-2020 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 12-2 in Section 3-5A, earning the team’s eighth consecutive section title.

Tickets for the PIAA playoff game are $8 for adults and $4 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, visit http://www.piaa.org/sports/championship_details.aspx?sport=basketball