Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team took second place in the 2017-2018 PIAA Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship, after being defeated 67-55 by the Abington Heights Comets in the final game on March 27.

The Fightin’ Planets suppressed the Milton Hershey Spartans 62-61 in the PIAA semifinals on March 19; routed the Highlands Golden Rams 60-51 in the quarterfinals on March 16; topped the Trinity Area Hillers 49-40 in the second round on March 13; and tamed the Hampton Talbots 68-47 in the first round on March 9.

The team earned its first-ever WPIAL title with a 54-44 win over the Franklin Regional Panthers in the final game of the 2017-2018 WPIAL Class 5A Boys Varsity Basketball Championship on March 2. The Planets outdid the Trinity Area Hillers 56-39 in the WPIAL semifinals on Feb. 27 and trounced the Hampton Talbots 70-51 in the quarterfinals on Feb. 23.

The boys team ended the 2017-2018 regular season with an overall record of 18-4 and 11-1 in section play, earning Section 2-5A title.

Outstanding players on this year’s team included senior Robby Carmody, who was named 2017-2018 Gatorade Pennsylvania Boys Basketball Player of the Year, as well as seniors Connor Amsler, Hunter Fetsko, Cade Hetzler, Ray Kahn, Luke Morrissey, Joe Schneider, and Austin Vogel; juniors Brandon Caruso and Andrew Recchia; and sophomores Michael Carmody and Joey Craska.

For more information, visit www.piaa.org.