Cade Hetzler Send Mars Into Class 5A PIAA Championship Game
With a steep deficit facing them at halftime, the thought of a game-winning basket to send them to the Class 5A PIAA Championship Game was the last thing on Mars’ minds.
But with perseverance, that’s exactly what they got.
With nine seconds left in the game, senior Cade Hetzler lost his defender and was able to put in the go-ahead basket for a 62-61 win against Milton Hershey at Altoona High School.
After jumping out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter, the Planets were scrambling to find their rhythm in the second. Milton Hersey went on a 24-4 run at one point to take a 37-26 lead at intermission.
Whatever coach Rob Carmody said to his team at halftime worked, with the Planets returning the favor with a 20-9 run of their own to cut the deficit to 49-48 heading into the final quarter.
Senior Rob Carmody converted on a 3-point play with 1:13 remaining to make it a 61-60 game. Mars was able to force a turnover to setup Hetzler’s game-winning heroics.
Carmody finished with a team-high 22 points. Sophomore Mike Carmody followed with 16 points and Hetzler chipped in with 10.
Mars improves to 24-4 and increase its win streak to nine games.
A 10th straight win on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Giant Center in Hershey against Abington Heights (26-3) will give them the Class 5A PIAA championship.