Seniors Lauren Atwell and Olivia Donnelly competed as members of the 2023 East Girls Team in the Girls All-Star Basketball Game. Donnelly was named the East Team MVP and Hot Shot Winner and Atwell was selected as the winner of the Cager Classic Essay Contest.
WPIAL Class 5A All-Section Team Selections
On the boys team, senior Tasso Sfanos (guard) and junior Ryan Ceh (forward) were selected for the WPIAL Class 5A All-Section (4) First Team; and junior Remi Black (forward) to the Second Team.
This season, the Fightin’ Planets advanced to the second round of the 2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship, after taking sixth place in the 2022-2023 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship. The team ended the regular season with an overall record of 14-8 and 6-4 in Section 4-5A.
On the girls team, senior Olivia Donnelly (guard/forward) and senior Annalyn Isaacs (guard) were named to the WPIAL Class 5A All-Section (2) First Team; senior Lauren Atwell (center) and sophomore Vita Vargo (guard) to the Second Team. Freshman Alexis Cashdollar (guard/forward) earned an Honorable Mention.
This season, the Lady Planets advanced to the second round of the 2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship, after taking sixth place in the 2022-2023 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship. The team ended the regular season with an overall record of 15-6 and tied for first place in Section 2-5A with a record of 9-3.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380 or visit https://pabig56.com/all-conferenceall-section-teams-big-56/.
2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the second round of the 2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship on March 15, but was defeated 51-24 by the Cathedral Prep Ramblers.
The Lady Planets triumphed over the York Suburban Trojans 49-40 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on March 11. The team advanced to the PIAA playoffs after taking sixth place in the 2022-2023 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship with a 46-42 loss to the Trinity Hillers in the Second Round Playback Consolation Game on March 2.
The team trounced the Hampton Talbots 36-33 in the First Round Playback Consolation Game on Feb. 27. The team entered the consolation brackets, following the Planets 63-42 defeat by the Oakland Catholic Eagles 63-42 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals on Feb. 24. The Planets tamed the Lincoln Park Leopards 56-29 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Feb. 21.
The Planets ended the 2022-2023 regular season with an overall record of 15-6 and tied for first place in Section 2-5A with a record of 9-3.
Players on this year’s team include seniors Lauren Atwell, Olivia Donnelly, Annalyn Isaacs and Alexa McDole; junior Ava Day; sophomores Gianna DeLisio, Carmella McDole, Abby Robinson, Vita Vargo and Grace Zatezalo; and, freshmen Alexis Cashdollar, Cecilia Christy, Anna McGrath, Tess McGrath and Mya Moore.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.
2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the second round of the 2022-2023 PIAA Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship on March 14, but was defeated 66-54 by the Cathedral Prep Ramblers.
The Fightin’ Planets bested the Manheim Central Barons 61-49 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs March 10. The team advanced to the PIAA playoffs, after taking sixth place in the 2022-2023 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship with a 56-36 loss to the South Fayette Lions in the Second Round Playback Consolation Game on Feb. 28.
The team outfoxed the Fox Chapel Foxes 75-69 in the First Round Playback Consolation Game on Feb. 24. The team entered the consolation brackets, following a 60-41 defeat by the Penn Hills Indians in the WPIAL Quarterfinals on Feb. 22. The team grounded the Bethel Park Black Hawks 76-40 in the first round of WPIAL playoffs on Feb. 17.
The Planets ended the 2022-2023 regular season with an overall record of 14-8 and 6-4 in Section 4-5A.
Players on this year’s team include senior Andrew Cashdollar, Deven Koch, Zack Orosz, Joey Rocco and Tasso Sfanos; juniors Remi Black, Ryan Ceh, Elias Grenier and Ian Zukowski; and sophomores Austin Campbell, Luke Goodworth, Brady Jordan, Drew Navetta, Derek Petcash, Hayden Reisinger, Alex Vidic, Wyatt Vingle, Will Wilson and Blake Yates; and, freshman Ben Detisch.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette High School Athlete of the Week
Sfanos, a four-year member of the Fightin’ Planets Boys Varsity Basketball Team, tied a career high with 34 points and 9 assists in the team’s 80-63 victory over the Kiski Area Cavaliers on Dec. 15. He is averaging 28.4 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 steals.
For more information, visit https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-athlete-of-the-week/2022/12/19/athletes-of-the-week-peters-township-gemma-walker-mars-tasso-sfanos/stories/202212190050.
2021-2022
A-K Valley Cager Classic
Four members of Mars Area High School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams were selected to compete in the 25th annual A-K Valley Cager Classic to be held on Saturday, April 2, at Highlands High School (Natrona Heights).
Seniors Ava Black and Kaitlyn Pelaia will compete at 5:45 p.m., as members of the 2022 East Girls Team in the Girls All-Star Basketball Game, to be followed at 7:45 p.m. by the Boys All-Star Basketball Game, in which seniors Chris Dvorak and Zach Schlegel will join the 2022 West Boys Team.
For details, visit http://akcagerclassic.com.
Players Named to All-Section Teams
Several members of Mars Area High School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams are listed among the best players in the region.
On the boys team, senior Chris Dvorak (Forward), senior Zach Schlegel (Guard), and junior Tasso Sfanos (Guard) were named to the All-Section (4) First Team and senior Austin Cote (Guard) and senior Bryce Cunningham (Guard) were selected for honorable mentions. Rob Carmody, head coach, was named All-Section Coach of the Year.
This season, the Fightin’ Planets advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship. The team ended the 2021-2022 regular season with an overall record of 19-2 and went undefeated (12-0) in section, earning the Section 4-5A Title.
On the girls team, senior Ava Black (Forward) was named to the All-Section (2) First Team; junior Alexa McDole (Guard) and junior Olivia Donnelly (Guard/Forward) to the Second Team; and senior Katelyn Pelaia (Guard/Forward) and freshman Vita Vargo (Guard) were selected for honorable mentions.
The Lady Planets advanced to the first round of the 2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship. The team ended the 2021-2022 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 9-3 in Section 2-5A.
For more information, visit www.wpial.org.
2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship on Feb. 24, but was defeated 66-61 by the Gateway Gators.
The Fightin’ Planets tamed the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars 71-48 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Feb. 21. The team ended the 2021-2022 regular season with an overall record of 19-2 and went undefeated (12-0) in section, earning the Section 4-5A Title.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Austin Cote, Bryce Cunningham, Chris Dvorak, Jonah Kozora and Zach Schlegel; juniors Andrew Cashdollar, Devon Koch, Joey Rocco and Tasso Sfanos; sophomores Remi Black, Ryan Ceh, Elias Grenier, Lucas Sciullo and Ian Zukowski; and, freshmen Austin Campbell and Drew Navetta.
For more information, visit www.wpial.org.
2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the first round of the 2021-2022 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship on Feb. 22, but was defeated 67-62 by the Greater Latrobe Wildcats.
The Lady Planets ended the 2021-2022 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 9-3 in Section 2-5A.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Ava Black, Kylee Fredrick, Kaitlyn Pelaia, Allie Rice and Jessica Winters; juniors Lauren Atwell, Avery Bennett, Olivia Donnelly, Clare Guinee and Alexa McDole; sophomores Ava Day, Katherine Detisch, Kaitlyn Lawless, Emma McCosby, Lindsey Morello and Riley Strong; and, freshmen Gianna DeLisio, Ava Herbolich, Carmella McDole, Abigail Robinson, Vitaliana Vargo and Grace Zatezalo.
For more information, visit www.wpial.org.
Basketball Player Surpasses 1,000 Career Points
Schlegel achieved the milestone at the Fightin’ Planets’ game against the Feb. 12 game against the Knoch Knights.
This season, Schlegel averaged 17.9 points per game and helped lead the Planets to win the Section 4-5A Title. The team ended the 2021-2022 regular season with an overall record of 19-2 and went undefeated (12-0) in section play.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380.