Past 2 WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball champions Moon, Mars set to play for title

By: William Whalen
Thursday, February 28, 2019 | 9:25 PM

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It’s the title game that will have astronomers’ eyes on Pitt’s Petersen Events Center and not up against a telescope pointed skyward.

When top-seeded Mars and No. 3 Moon take to the floor at 9 p.m. Friday for the WPIAL Class 5A boys championship, it’ll mark a highly-anticipated matchup that’s been three years in the making.

“Two years ago, we thought we were going to have this matchup until Hampton upset Mars (in the semifinals),” Moon coach Adam Kaufman said.

“This is that game we thought that we a were going to have the last two seasons, and it’s here.”

Both teams have a similar recent history. Moon (23-1) won the Class 5A title in 2017 by beating Hampton, 69-62. Mars (23-1), on the other hand, is the defending Class 5A champion. The Fightin’ Planets downed Franklin Regional last season, 54-44, to earn their first WPIAL basketball title.

Maybe it was necessary for both teams to get a WPIAL title under their belts first before meeting? It sure makes for great theater.

“I don’t think it’s any secret that Mars and Moon have put themselves on the top of the 5A list,” Mars coach Rob Carmody said. “There’s a whole lot to like about their team. It’s gonna be challenge. When you get to the WPIAL championship game, you wouldn’t expect anything else.”

Around the Mars locker room, it’s also no secret that Carmody’s players are tired of hearing “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. Carmody starts every practice with the rock jam, and he’s beginning to feel like his players have had enough of it.

“My team hates me this time of year,” Carmody joked.

The Planets will get off the bus in Oakland with a ton of experience. The senior class has 23 playoff games under their belts and are no strangers to bright lights and big games.

“They are very similar to us,” Kaufman said. “They have very experienced senior guard play, and (Andrew) Recchia has been in a ton of big games.”

Recchia, a Shippensburg recruit, leads Mars with 17.7 points-per-game average through 23 games. He put up a game-high 25 in Mars’ 53-44 semifinal win over No. 5 Chartiers Valley.

The one thing that is different than in years past is that the Planets’ offensive attack isn’t centered around one person as it was when 2018 grad Robby Carmody paced the Mars offense.

The Planets are the highest-scoring team in Class 5A this season, averaging 71.2 points, and they’re spreading the ball around to get it done.

In addition to Recchia, senior Kohri Fusco (15.8) and junior forward Michael Carmody (15.4) have made it difficult on opposing defenses. The 6-foot-6 Carmody cleans up around the rim and makes a living in the paint with putbacks.

Senior Brandon Caruso brings the fire to the floor, and junior Jospeh Craska rounds out the Planets’ starting five. Freshman guard Zach Schlegel has been earning minutes as the season has gone on and figures to play a role against Moon. Schlegel scored the game-tying layup in Mars’ thrilling come-form-behind win over Section 3 rival Franklin Regional.

“I really like where our team is at, and I like where we are mentally,” Coach Carmody said. “If you’re gonna win a championship, you’re going to have to play some tough, physical games and some foul trouble. I think (Tuesday) night was a great example of it. We scrapped, battled, we fought and we found a way to win.”

Moon is the top defensive team in Class 5A, giving up 46.3 points per game. And just like Mars, the Tigers are getting it done and scoring points with a more than one player this season.

Junior Donovan Johnson leads the Moon attack and is averaging 22.6 points. Johnson scored a game-high 20 points and senior guard Connor Ryan added 13 in the Tigers’ 59-46 win over No. 2 Penn Hills Tuesday night. Ryan is averaging 13.3 points.

“The nice thing about us, we’ve had different guys step up at different times,” Kaufman said. “We’re very fortunate to have seven seniors.”

Ryan and senior Jioni Smith both were in the starting lineup two years ago and had senior Austin Ryan coming off the bench. Smith is averaging 8.8 points while Austin Ryan is putting up 9.2.

Both Kaufman and Carmody have the same philosophies, putting focus on what their team does well. It’s too late in the season to make drastic changes. It’s time to roll the ball out and play ball.

“Do your job, that’s what you want to do this time of year,” Kaufman said.

Carmody is looking for the next test and the next challenge.

“The old cliché is that you survive and advance, that’s really all it is,” Carmody said. “Now we have to reboot ourselves and get ready for the next challenge. Our guys are used to the grind of the season.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Mars, Moon