Slippery Rock's Sedona Campbell lunges at Hampton's Laryn Edwards in an effort to pry away the ball in the Rockets' 50-31 PIAA Class 5A tournament loss Saturday at Slippery Rock University.

SLIPPERY ROCK — It was a sour end to what was mostly a sweet season.

The Slippery Rock High girls basketball team got off to a dreadful start against Hampton, falling behind 16-2, and never recovered in a 50-31 loss Saturday in the first round of the PIAA 5A playoffs at Slippery Rock University.

“It was so uncharacteristic of us,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “We had like four possession (early) where we had a ball dribble out of bounds off our foot, or had a pass that went through the hands, things like that.”

The reason was easy for Osborn to pinpoint.

“Nerves,” she said.

It looked as if Slippery Rock (19-6) battled through those playoff jitters toward the end of the first quarter and into the second as the Rockets cut the big Talbot lead down to 23-17.

But Hampton (23-3) closed the half on a 6-1 run and then opened up a 39-20 lead after three quarters.

“Hampton will make you nervous,” Osborn said. “They hound you and trap you and their halfcourt stuff is good. They’re good at what they do.”

Slippery Rock was coming off a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to Central Valley in the District 10 5A championship game last Saturday, but Osborn said the team had its best practice of the season Monday.

“I remember telling them in the circle that it shows a lot of character,” Osborn said.

Seniors Jenna Whitmer and Sedona Campbell each scored seven points to pace Slippery Rock, which will also be losing seniors Bailey Boyd, Steph Croll, Elena McDermott, Hannah Willison, JoElla Neal and Julia Steele.

“I feel bad and awful for the seniors,” Osborn said. “It doesn’t take away from what they accomplished this year. I’m really, really, really going to miss them.”

HAMPTON 50

Laryn Edwards 2 1-3 5, Jenna Lafko 4 2-4 11, Alison Collins 4 2-5 11, Julia Powers 1 0-0 3, Grace Dean 1 2-2 4, Natalie Dean 1 0-0 2, Bree Murray 2 0-0 6, Brooke Fuller 3 0-0 6, Aaryn Griggs 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 7-14 50.

SLIPPERY ROCK 31

Jenna Whitmer 3 0-0 7, Elena McDermott 2 0-0 6, Bailey Boyd 2 0-0 4, Macy McCall 1 0-3 2, Steph Croll 2 0-0 5, Sedona Campbell 3 1-2 7. Totals: 13 1-5 31.

Hampton 18 11 10 11 — 50

Slippery Rock6 12 2 11 — 31

3-point goals: Hampton 5 (Lafko, Collins, Powers, Murray 2); Slippery Rock 4 (Whitmer, McDermott 2, Croll)