Several members of Mars Area High School Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams were named to the 2018-2019 Butler Eagle Honor Roll
Seniors Brandon Caruso (guard), Khori Fusco (guard) and Andrew Recchia (guard), and junior Michael Carmody (forward) and were selected for the Boys Basketball Honor Roll. Senior Tai Johnson (guard) and junior Bella Pelaia (forward) were named to the Girls Basketball Honor Roll.
For more information, call (724) 625-9380.
A-K Valley Cager Classic All-Star Basketball Games
Seniors Andrew Recchia and Brandon Caruso competed as members of the Boys East Squad, which defeated the West Squad 107-105. Recchia was the second leading scorer with 14 points; and Caruso came in fourth with 11 points.
Seniors Tai Johnson and Haylee Fredericks helped to lead the Girls East Squad to a 66-64 win over the West Squad. Johnson was the leading scorer with 20 points and was named East Girls MVP.
For more information, visit http://akcagerclassic.com/index.html.
PIAA Class 5A Boys Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the semifinals of the 2019 PIAA Class 5A Boys Basketball Championship on March 18, but were defeated 73-55 by the Moon Area Tigers.
The Fightin’ Planets beat the Meadville Bulldogs 73-57 in the PIAA quarterfinals on March 15; bested the William Penn Bearcats 60-59 in the second round of the PIAA playoffs on March 12 and conquered the Milton Hershey Spartans 74-65 in the first round on March 8. The team advanced to the state playoffs after winning its second consecutive WPIAL Class 5A Boys Basketball Championship title on March 1.
The team corralled the Chartiers Valley Colts 53-44 in the WPIAL semifinals on Feb. 26; and trounced the Shaler Area Titans 74-52 in the WPIAL quarterfinals on Feb. 22. The Planets ended the 2018-2019 regular season with an overall record of 21-1 and remained undefeated (14-0) in section play, earning Section 3-5A title.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Nolan Carr, Brandon Caruso, Kevin Ceh, Rowan Fletcher, Jack Kepreos, Khori Ramseur-Fusco, Andrew Recchia and Caleb Schmidt; junior Michael Carmody, Joseph Craska, Jared Kozora and Ryan Peaco; sophomores Will Johnson, Caleb Raydo, Nate Roush, Anthony Savona, Eric Schaffner, Michael Sfanos and Andrew Steiner; and, freshmen Bryce Cunningham and Zachary Schlegel.
For more information, visit www.piaa.org.
WPIAL Class 5A Girls Basketball Championship
Mars Area High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2018-2019 WPIAL Class 5A Girls Basketball Championship on Feb. 23, but was defeated 67-45 by the Oakland Catholic Eagles.
The Lady Planets defeated the Woodland Hills Wolverines 56-50 in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs on Feb. 19. The team ended the 2018-2019 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 8-4 in Section 2-5A play.
Players on this year’s team included seniors Haylee Fredericks, Tai Johnson, Regan Kramm and Cassie Mueller; juniors Caroline Barent, Mara Fuller, Olivia Lockette and Isabella Pelaia; sophomores Ellie Coffield, Alek Johnson, Carly Kern and Madeleine Horvath; and freshmen Ava Black, Jess Winters, Allie Rice, Alena Kostial, Kylee Fredericks, Kaitlyn Pelaia and Sara Soltis.
For more information, visit www.wpial.org.
Western PA Big 5/6 Athletic Conference Class 5A All-Section Basketball Teams
Several members of Mars Area High School Girls and Boys Varsity Basketball Teams were selected for the Western Pennsylvania Big 5/6 Athletic Conference Class 5A Basketball All-Section Teams.
On the girls team, senior Tai Johnson was named to the Section 2-5A All-Section First Team; junior Isabella Pelaia to the Second Team; and sophomore Ellie Coffield received an honorable mention. The Lady Planets ended the 2018-2019 regular season with an overall record of 17-5 and 8-4 in Section 2-5A play and advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
On the boys team, seniors Khori Ramseur-Fusco and Andrew Recchia, along with junior Michael Carmody, were named Section 3-5A All-Section First Team; and senior Brandon Caruso to the Second Team. In addition, Rob Carmody, Boys Varsity Basketball head coach, was named the Section 3-5A All-Section Coach of the Year.
The Fightin’ Planets ended the 2018-2019 regular season with an overall record of 21-1 and remained undefeated (14-0) in section play. The team earned the Section 3-5A title and advanced to the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
For more information, visit http://pabig56.com/.