Top-ranked Mars shows ‘offensive versatility’ in 26-point victory over Shaler

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 | 12:06 AM

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Andrew Recchia figured out Shaler’s strategy rather quickly.

“On the first possession, I was all the way down the court,” he said, “and they were up in my face.”

Shaler was determined to keep Mars’ leading scorer in check Tuesday night, so the top-ranked Planets relied instead on a few other scorers early in their 79-53 victory at Shaler.

Mars had four scorers in double figures, led by Recchia and Mike Carmody with 21 points each. Carmody also had 18 rebounds. But it was early contributions from Brandon Caruso (13 points) and Khori Fusco (12 points) that kept Shaler’s defensive approach from working.

Caruso and Fusco combined for six 3-pointers including five in the first half. Mars built a 14-point halftime lead with only one first-half basket from Recchia.

“Caruso comes out and hits three 3s; that’s the difference in the first half,” Shaler coach Rob Neiderberger said. “Some of the guys we were letting shoot were knocking them down. You tip your hat in a game like that.”

“The other guys making plays opened everything up and got me going,” said Recchia, a 5-foot-10 Shippensburg recruit who scored 19 points in the final three quarters.

Mekhi Reynolds led Shaler (11-5, 6-3) with 26 points and Justin Desabato added 12. The Titans remain in third place in the section.

Mars won by only six points when the teams met Jan. 2, but the Planets took an early lead in the rematch with an 11-0 run at the end of the first quarter. Mars led 36-22 at halftime and 53-42 after three before dominating the fourth quarter (26-11).

Mars won a WPIAL title last season behind superstar senior Robby Carmody, now a freshman at Notre Dame. But this year’s lineup could be harder to scheme against, Mars coach Rob Carmody said. Recchia averages 17.1 points, Fusco averages 15.9 and Mike Carmody averages 14.7.

“Our offensive versatility is way better than last year,” Rob Carmody said. “As great as it was to have Robby, our guys stood around and watched and waited. This year, Michael’s had a 20-point game. Khori’s had a 20-point game. Andrew’s had a 20-point game. Brandon’s had 19.

“The three guys that rotate in the fifth spot have had 18 combined. We had 88 points in a game last week and all five spots provided at least 15 points. What do you do (defensively)?”

Mars’ offense is averaging almost a point better than last season at 71.9 per game.

“Last year, if you slowed down Robby you had a shot at us,” Recchia said. “This year, if you slow down one of us, three or four other guys can score in double figures.”

Shaler led 9-5 early Tuesday before Mars ended the first quarter on an 11-0 run. Mike Carmody had a put-back basket and a turnaround jumper to spark the run. Caruso and Recchia followed with consecutive layups. Fusco capped it with a 3-pointer to lead 16-9.

The Planets also started the second quarter sluggishly, but then ran off a 13-5 run in the four minutes before halftime to lead 36-22.

“That’s been a trademark of this group,” Mars coach Rob Carmody said. “I think we went four minutes without scoring in the second quarter and then — Boom! — we had 17 points very quickly. But it’s something that we have to correct. We have to get better when it bogs down a little bit.”

Shaler cut Mars’ lead to eight points early in the third after two layups by Reynolds and a free throw by Brennan Fugh. But quick baskets by Carmody and Recchia pushed Mars’ lead back to 45-33.

Reynolds and Desabato scored 38 of Shaler’s 53 points but the Titans couldn’t keep pace.

“Usually we have a pretty balanced scoring effort,” Neiderberger said. “We only had two guys in double figures and then our next leading scorer had four. Mars had four guys in double figures and shot the ball really well.”

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Mars, Shaler