Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team earned first place and the PIAA Class 5A Trophy after defeating the Archbishop Wood Vikings 36-33 in the final game of the 2017-2018 PIAA Class 5A Girls Varsity Basketball Championship on March 28.

 

The Lady Planets overpowered the Archbishop John Carroll Patriots 52-39 in the PIAA semifinals on March 24; trounced the Gateway Gators 50-38 in the quarterfinals on March 17; tamed the Thomas Jefferson Jaguars 61-53 in the second round of the 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.

 

Outstanding players on this year’s team included senior Lauren Wasylson, who surpassed 1,000 career points this season, as well as seniors Rachel Bobko, Daria Hockenberry and Nichole Sommers; juniors Tai Johnson and Regan Kramm; sophomores Caroline Barent, Mara Fuller, Olivia Lockette and Isabella Pelaia; and freshmen Ellie Coffield and Alek Johnson.

 

For more information, visit www.piaa.org or check out the District's Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/MarsAreaSD.