ADAMS TWP — Keeping pace with Mars for a quarter or a half is one thing.

Doing so for an entire game has been too much for most of the team’s opponents this season.

Their outside shooting is a big reason why the Planets are winning games going away and it was certainly a factor Friday night.

Mars connected on 13 treys — four apiece from Zach Schlegel and Mihali Sfanos — in a 69-53 boys basketball defeat of visiting Hampton.

The Planets (11-1, 8-1) now have an average margin of victory of 23 points.

“We still want to attack the rim and get to the free throw line,” said Mars coach Rob Carmody. “But we also want our guys to be aggressive when they get a good look from the outside.”

Those open shots came early and often against the Talbots (3-10, 3-5).

Sophomore Tasso Sfanos scored nine straight points — all on 3s — in the first quarter and by halftime, Mars’ treys totaled eight. Their lead improved from 19-15 after one quarter to 41-24 at the break.

“Mars gives you a lot to contend with, especially with as young as we are,” said Talbots’ coach Joe Lafko. “They are quick and they have some guys who are really good on the perimeter.”

Particularly, Mihali and Tasso Sfanos and Schlegel have been incredibly consistent from beyond the arc.

“Those three are all above 40 percent from 3-point range for the season,” said Carmody. “It seems like every night, we’re hitting 11, 12 or 13 three-pointers.

“Bryce Cunningham, Anthony Vargo, Austin Cote ... we have a lot of guys who can shoot from the outside.”

Mihali Sfanos, who finished with a game-high 21 points, drained three of his four treys in the third quarter as Mars built a 62-38 lead before Planets’ reserves finished out the game.

Schlegel added 18 points and Tasso 11.

With as impressive as the Planets are at times, Carmody wants a more consistent effort.

“We can’t rely on spurts. They’re nice, but we need to play well for a full 32 minutes,” he said. “It’s mid-February and usually at this time we’re getting ready for the WPIAL playoffs. But this year, it’s just mid-season and we’re still trying to figure things out, things like recognizing what teams are trying to do to us defensively.”

Junior guard Matt DeMatteo, Hampton’s lone surviving starter from last year, scored 11 points along with teammate Eric Weeks.

HAMPTON 53

Matt DeMatteo 5 0-0 11, Jaden McMeekin 1 2-2 4, Brennan Murray 2 0-0 5, Zander Plizga 1 0-0 3, Eric Weeks 4 0-0 11, Robert Coll 3 0-0 6, Braxton Eastly 3 0-0 6, Liam Mignogna 3 0-0 7. Totals: 22 2-2 53.

MARS 69

Austin Cote 3 1-2 9, Zach Schlegel 7 0-0 18, Anthony Vargo 0 2-4 2, Chris Dvorak 1 0-0 2, Tasso Sfanos 4 0-0 11, Mihali Sfanos 8 1-3 21, Pete Gonzalez 2 0-0 4, Pete Craska 1 0-0 2, Quinn Navetta 0 0-0 0, Eric Schaffner 0 0-0 0, Nate Roush 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 4-9 69.

Hampton 15 9 14 15 — 53

Mars19 22 21 7 — 69

3-point goals: Hampton 7 (Weeks 3, DeMatteo, Murray, Plizga, Mignogna); Mars 13 (M. Sfanos 4, Schlegel 4, T. Sfanos 3, Cote 2).

Wednesday: Shenango at Mars