Neuman-Goretti Wins Third Straight State Title With Rout of Mars

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 18, 2016 | 11:21 PM

Following all the pomp and circumstance after Friday’s PIAA boys Class AAA Championship game between District 12 powerhouse Neumann-Goretti and Mars, it seemed as if Mars came away with a state championship trophy.

That was, of course because of the standing ovation a senior-laden Fighting Planets team received from their sizeable section of supporters in the Giant Center. However, the scoreboard told a completely different story, as Neumann-Goretti picked up another state championship, the sixth in seven years, by a score of 99-66.

It’s hard to tell if anyone could have handled the Saints Friday evening, considering the hot shooting by Neumann-Goretti, especially beyond the arc. Quade Green and Zane Martin combined for 58 points, as Martin, a Towson recruit, scored a game-high 33 points.

Despite the hot shooting, Mars hung tight with the Saints in the first quarter, trailing by six. However, the Fighting Planets were outscored 24-10 in the second quarter, which gave way to a much too sizeable advantage for Neumann-Goretti.

Mars, a team that not many believed could even make a run in the state playoffs, was led by John Castello, who had a team-high 21 points. Sophomore standout Robby Carmody chipped in 20 despite playing with four fouls for the entire fourth quarter.

Even though the Planets seemed to be blown out on paper, Mars made program strides with a veteran class, which will see 12 seniors graduate. This was the first state title appearance in school history for Mars. As far as District 7 goes, the drought continues. The last Class AAA team to win a state title out of the WPIAL was Moon in 2004, when it defeated Holy Ghost Prep out of District 1 by a score of 52-50.

Neumann-Goretti Saints : 29 – 24 – 14 – 27 = 99
Mars Fighting Planets : 23 – 10 – 17 – 16 = 66