WPIAL showdown
Presence on defense, boards boosts Mars to key victory against Shaler
Mars defeats Shaler in matchup of ranked Class 5A teams.
When Mars lost to Shaler in December, Michael Carmody didn’t play for Mars because of an injured toe. When Mars lost to Hampton last week, Carmody didn’t play because he was in Hawaii, practicing for a football all-star game.
But Carmody is back — and so is Mars.
Mars played host to Shaler Tuesday night in a matchup of two of the top WPIAL Class 5A teams, and Shaler’s objective, besides winning, was to neutralize Carmody.
He’s a senior Planet who, at 6 feet 7, 290 pounds, might be close to being the size of a planet.
Carmody got only eight shots and scored 10 points, but he had a serious impact on the game, just with his presence, leadership and rebounding. Three other Mars players scored in double figures, and the Planets knocked off Shaler, 74-61, in a Class 5A Section 3 game.
The win puts Mars, the defending WPIAL 5A champ, back in the thick of the race for an eighth consecutive section title. Mars (11-3) is 6-2 in section play while Shaler (11-5) is in first at 8-1.
Carmody, a Notre Dame football recruit, finished with 18 rebounds and also misdirected a number of Shaler shots on the inside.
“By no means is he the best basketball player in the WPIAL, but I think he’s the most dominant force in the WPIAL,” said Rob Carmody, Michael’s father and Mars’ coach.
Shaler coach Rod Neideberger echoed the same thoughts.
“Honestly, I think besides [Butler’s] Ethan Morton, he’s as dominant as any kid in the WPIAL right now,” Neideberger said. “I think Mekhi is right there, too.”
Neideberger was speaking of his own point guard, senior Mekhi Reynolds, who was splendid with seven 3pointers and 32 points (12 of 26 from the field).
Reynolds made a few long 3-pointers seemingly from Cranberry. But Chris White, who had 14 points, was the only other Shaler player in double figures.
“Michael gives us something that most teams don’t have,” Rob Carmody said.
“If you have to guard him with two people and we shoot it the way we did in this game … I used the word ‘wow’ with our guys afterward because we had not seen this before.”
Mihali Sfanos, a junior guard, continued his recent stellar play with 27 points, including four 3-pointers. He scored 15 of his points in the first half as Mars took a 30-22 lead into the break.
Mars also got 19 points from sophomore Chris Dvorak and 14 from sophomore guard Zach Schlegel.
“Shaler had a good game plan, doubling me most of the time,” Michael Carmody said. “But our other guys stepped up, and it’s awesome to see that. I’d say this was the best game we played this year.
“It maybe wasn’t my best game overall. But as a team, it was our best game.”
Mars led by six points after the third quarter and went on a 10-2 run early in the fourth quarter to take control.
Despite the loss, Shaler still is in control in the section, and the Titans are looking to win their first section title since 2012.
“Look, Mars was the measuring stick,” Neideberger said.
“It’s never easy to play here and it was anyone’s game for a little bit. I think Mars is going to be right there at the end.
“Penn Hills is there, too. But I think we are, too.”
Fortunately for Mars, Michael Carmody is there again.