News

It didn’t seem like any team in Class 5A was going to contest the Mars boys basketball team, until Friday night.

In its biggest game of the season, Moon was able to stifle its Section 2-5A opponent with a 58-43 win at home.

The Tigers handed the Planets their lone section loss of the season to this point, and have now split the season series with them after losing 72-64 back on Jan. 9.

The 43 points by Mars was 33 points below its season average and its lowest output of the season.

Moon held a 26-25 halftime lead but clamped down in the second half, allowing only eight points in each of the final two quarters.

Junior Connor Ryan led the Tigers with 16 points. Senior Robby Carmody had a game-high 27 points for the Planets.

The win improves Moon to 16-4 overall and 8-2 in the section. The Tigers solidly stand in second place with an outside chance to share the section title with Mars. They will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to West Allegheny at 7:30 p.m.

The loss drops Mars to 15-4 overall and 9-1 in the section. They still control its own destiny for a section title, and will look to keep that goal alive on Tuesday when they host Chartiers Valley at 7:30 p.m.