Mars Girls Youth Basketball Association’s Fifth Grade Gold Team earned second place at the 2025 Pennsylvania Middle School Basketball Championship, held March 14-16 in State College, Pa.

The team defeated MARA (Pires) (9-13), the Exeter Eagles (39-3) and Perkiomen Valley (28-26); but, was unseated 29-24 by MLGBA Placek in the championship game. The Fifth Grade Gold Team, which was the only team in its division to advance to the state championships for two consecutive years, took second place for the second year in a row.

Team members include Mars Area Centennial School fifth-graders Reagan Anke, Samantha Beckert, Avery Cooper, Lila Demetris, Ainsley Genis, Amelia Lavrinc, Hailey Rodgers and Nora Wiley.

For details, visit www.marsgirlsyouthbasketballassociation.org or https://www.ballertv.com/teams/mars-kiujc9wzudmkj1ex-tfp.