Austen Wroblewski scores 27, but Mars boys basketball can’t keep up in loss to Greater Latrobe
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Mars' Austen Wroblewski (5) gets fouled by Greater Latrobe's Sawyer Butina (12) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Austen Wroblewski (5) steals the ball from Greater Latrobe's Max Butler (2) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' bench celebrates as Chase Thimons (31) hits a 3-pointer against Greater Latrobe in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Austen Wroblewski (5) shoots against Greater Latrobe's John Wetzel (10) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Austin Campbell (1) drives the ball past Greater Latrobe's Andy Tatysch (15) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Detisch (35) shoots over Greater Latrobe's Ian Decree (5) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Austin Campbell (1) gets hit in the face as he shoots by Greater Latrobe's Andy Tatsch (15) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Austin Campbell (1) drives the ball past Greater Latrobe's Andy Tatysch (15) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Detisch (35) and Nicholas Santoro (21) fights for a loose ball with Greater Latrobe's Sawyer Butina (12) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Detisch (35) fights for a loose ball with Greater Latrobe's Ian Decree (5) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Detisch (35) fights for a loose ball with Greater Latrobe's John Wetzel (10) in a boys basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
ADAMS TWP — Greater Latrobe boys basketball likes to run on the hardwood, but Mars was beating the Wildcats at their own game early on.
The Planets shot a blistering 69% (20 of 29) from the field in the first half while building a 48-36 lead.
It was a pace the Planets could not sustain, however. They missed their first 11 attempts in the fourth quarter and were passed by the visiting Wildcats in an 83-77 loss Tuesday night.
“We are willing to play at whatever pace we need to beat a team,” Mars coach Kobe Phillippi said. “We definitely played to their tempo the entire game, and it caught up with us.”
Mars (1-3) led 64-63 after three quarters but did not score any points in the final period until Austen Wroblewski’s two free throws with 1:50 left, and by that point Latrobe was ahead 72-66.
The Planets finally got a basket on Austin Campbell’s drive with 51 seconds remaining, cutting Latrobe’s edge to 77-69. The Wildcats iced the game from the free-throw line. They were 26 of 42 from the stripe.
While his team did not take the lead for good until the fourth quarter. Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel pointed to the third as the turning point. During the eight-minute span, Latrobe outscored Mars 27-16 behind 14 points from Max Butler.
“We cut into their lead and just battled,” he said. “It’s a mentality. We went 8-13 last year and would’ve lost a game like this.”
The Wildcats (4-0) remained unbeaten thanks in large part to a very balanced offense. Butler led the way with 28 points, but John Wetzel and Andy Tatsch both scored 16 and Ian Decerb added 12.
Wroblewski scored 27 to lead Mars. All three of his treys in the game came in the second quarter. The Planets held a double-digit lead for most of the period.
“When you’re making shots, the team’s confidence rises,” Phillippi said. “It takes some of the pressure off, and the guys aren’t as tight.”
Campbell scored 14 in defeat. His four baskets in the opening quarter helped spur Mars’ early success.
The Planets allowed the Wildcats to grab 11 offensive boards.
“Rebounding has been a struggle for us,” Phillippi said. “It’s an issue, and we work on it every day in practice.”
LATROBE 83
Max Butler 9 8-11 28, John Wetzel 6 4-10 16, Andy Tatsch 5 5-7 16, Ian Decerb 4 4-7 12, Kyle McNeil 3 3-3 9, Brady Prohovic 0 2-2 2, Dom Scarton 0 0-2 0. Totals: 27 26-42 83.
MARS 77
Austin Campbell 7 0-0 14, Will Wilson 3 0-0 8, Drew Navetta 2 1-2 7, Ben Detisch 2 2-5 6, Austen Wroblewski 10 4-6 27, Nick Santoro 4 1-2 9, Chase Thimons 1 1-2 4, Alex Vidic 1 0-0 2. Totals: 30 9-17 77.
Latrobe 15 21 27 20 — 83
Mars 22 26 16 13 — 77
3-point goals: Latrobe 3 (Butler 2, Tatsch); Mars 8 (Wroblewski 3, Wilson 2, Navetta 2, Thimons).
Wednesday: Mars at Perry Traditional Academy
