SLIPPERY ROCK — There is no safety net. A loss, and there is no next game.

That's the reality facing the senior-laden Slippery Rock High girls basketball team as they prepare to open the PIAA Class AAA playoffs against Blackhawk at 5 p.m. Saturday at Slippery Rock University.

The past two games — wins over Franklin and Sharon in the District 10 tournament — weren't do-or-die situations; The Rockets knew, win or lose, there was another foe to conquer.

"We're not ready for this season to be over," said Slippery Rock coach Adrienne Orris. "I haven't had to say goodbye to girls for three years. We're not going to talk about it. We're not going to think about it. When the end comes, it comes."

Slippery Rock (22-2) isn't planning on the end being near.

That's because the Rockets may be playing their best basketball of the season.

In a 59-40 win over Sharon, Slippery Rock dominated the final 18 minutes of the game on both ends of the floor.

Blackhawk (15-8) will provide the Rockets with a different kind of challenge.

Five of the Cougars' eight losses came against section foes Hopewell and New Castle. Those teams have a combined record of 46-4 and met in the WPIAL Class AAA championship game Saturday.

Blackhawk suffered back-to-back two-point road losses to Hopewell and New Castle in January.

"That competition has helped us," said Blackhawk coach Steve Locovico. "We got into the WPIAL playoffs as an eight or nine seed and no one really knew what to expect from us."

Junior Alexa Hayward leads the Cougars with 14.8 points per game. She also is the floor leader, moving from forward to point guard this season to take advantage of her quickness and athleticism.

"We moved her because she can bring the ball up the floor more quickly," Locovico said. "She can score inside or outside. She's already getting some looks from Division I and Division II colleges."

That's not to say Hayward is Blackhawk's only threat.

Nine players get significant minutes and six average five points or more per game.

"We knew we had a pretty deep bench before the season started," Locovico said. "We play up-tempo. We try to push the ball, get to the rim and play tough, man-to-man defense."

Slippery Rock also likes things in the fast lane. But Orris is concerned about Blackhawk's quick, smallish guards, two of whom are under 5-feet-4.

Orris was a quick, smallish guard when she played at Union City High and Grove City College.

"We haven't played against a team that is as small and quick as they are (at guard)," Orris said. "We don't have girls quite like that. It's hard to guard them. I was a small guard. I know what it is like."

But with four of the five starters standing 5-9 or taller, the Rockets have the distinct height advantage. And all five starters can shoot from the outside.

"Like us, they are very balanced," Locovico said. "Obviously, you have to pay attention to the Rhoads twins (Karly and Kourtney). They are very good. But everyone on the floor is a threat."

This will be the first state playoff game for Slippery Rock in three years.

Back then, the seniors on this team were freshmen, relying on Jence Rhoads and her 30 points per game in the playoffs to get to the Elite Eight.

This team is made up largely of the same players who lost to Hopewell in the state quarterfinals, but are radically different, Orris said.

"Three years ago, it was get the ball to Jence," Orris said. "This time, it's get the ball to a lot of different girls. Not many of my girls receive a lot of attention because we are so balanced. This team has completely gelled together.

Slippery Rock (22-2)<B>Player Ht. Pos. Yr. Ppg</B>Karly Rhoads 5-11 G Sr. 16.5Ali Doyle 5-4 G Sr. 3.7Kourtney Rhoads 5-9 G Sr. 14.7Adele Campbell 5-10 F Sr. 8.1Sarah Cessar 5-9 F Sr. 10.1Blackhawk (15-8)<B>Player Ht. Pos. Yr. Ppg</B>Alexa Hayward 5-9 G Jr. 14.8Stephanie Gumbert 5-4 G Sr. 6.6Jessica Muslin 5-11 F Jr. 5.5Rachel Curtis 5-3 G Jr. 7.3Casey Emge 5-10 F Sr. 7.0