FOX CHAPEL — Hanging in against a top seed is a difficult task.

In Tuesday's WPIAL Class AAA boys basketball first-round playoff game, Mars showed Laurel Highlands just how tough it can be.

Despite a poor defensive showing in the first half, the top-ranked Planets held a 12-point lead at intermission. Then they landed a knockout blow with a 24-7 run in the third quarter before dispatching the Mustangs 90-54 at Fox Chapel High School.

Laurel Highlands (13-11) remained within striking distance early thanks to 18 first-half points from sophomore forward/center Jake Swartz.

“Coach (Rob) Carmody was fuming at halftime,” said Mars junior guard Christian Schmitt. “He was disappointed in our defense.”

Mars answered by holding Swartz to just four points in the second half while forcing 13 turnovers.

The Planets (22-1) will face Ambridge, an 84-69 winner over Uniontown, in the quarterfinals Friday at a site and time to be determined.

Carmody had watched his team make 18 field goals in the first two quarters, but felt it should have led to a bigger lead at halftime.

“It looked like an old ABA game,” he said. “I thought the final score would end up 170-156. In the third quarter, we created some turnovers and turned it into offense. I thought that was key.”

While Swartz was the only Mustang to reach double figures in points (22), Mars received 24 from Schmitt, 18 from John Castello and 13 courtesy of Alex Gruber.

Schmitt drained six treys, including a pair in the third quarter when the Planets began to truly assert their dominance at both ends of the floor.

“Christian shot the lights out of the ball tonight,” Carmody said. “Every shot he took was pure. They were quality shots. He's been on fire the last few games.”

Mustangs' coach Rick Hauger was impressed with the talent Mars sent to the floor.

“You can only pick up so much from watching film,” he said. “It's going to be different when you see a team in person. Mars is ranked No. 1 for a reason. They're very aggressive.”

Schmitt admitted that being the top seed did add a little pressure on him and his teammates.

“We could very easily have overlooked them (Mustangs),” he said. “We beat Montour (80-43) earlier this year and they barely beat them (47-43) last week. But we just had to keep telling ourselves that Laurel Highlands is here for the same reason we are. They are a good team.”

LAUREL HIGHLANDS 54

Brett Kusniar 1 0-0 2, Patrick Mahoney 1 0-0 2, David Rusko 1 1-2 3, Tyler Eadie 1 0-0 2, Andrew Cavinee 1 0-0 2, Darin Beres 2 0-0 4, Christian Lee 3 1-2 9, Jake Swartz 9 4-4 22, Bryce Laskey 1 0-0 3, Hudson Novak 2 1-2 5, Dan Cavinee 0 0-1 0. Totals: 22 7-11 54.

MARS 90

Aaron Gruber 1 0-0 2, Alex Gruber 6 1-2 13, Noah Tresky 1 0-0 2, John Castello 7 4-5 18, Bailey Trzeciak 2 0-0 5, Ryan Giallonardo 0 2-2 2, Nate Sablowski 1 4-4 6, Nate Bayuk 1 0-0 2, Christian Schmitt 9 0-0 24, Robby Carmody 4 0-0 9, Mitch Verplank 1 0-0 2, Steve Castello 0 2-2 2, Sam Morrissey 1 0-0 3, Brandt Kepreos 0 0-4 0. Totals: 34 13-19 90.

Laurel Highlands 16 16 7 15 — 54

Mars28 16 24 22 — 90

3-point goals: Laurel Highlands 3 (Lee 2, Laskey); Mars 9 (Schmitt 6, Trzeciak, Carmody, Morrissey).

Friday: Mars vs. Ambridge, WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal playoff; time and site TBD