MEADVILLE — After the final seconds ticked off the clock, Slippery Rock High girls basketball coach Amber Osborn pumped her fists and bumped Macy McCall, nearly knocking the senior guard to the floor.

“She's strong,” McCall said, smiling after an emotional 75-60 win over Warren in the District 10 5A semifinals Wednesday at Meadville High School. “She was excited. She's always excited. She does that.

“When I was out (with an injured foot) and on the sideline and someone scored, she would come over to me and shove me.”

This one meant a little more to Osborn and the Rockets, a team that has relied a lot on freshmen and players coming off injury to get back to the district title game after losing it in heartbreaking fashion last season to Erie East.

“I can't explain how happy I am,” said junior Emma McDermott, who scored 13 of her 18 points in the first quarter Wednesday to get Slippery Rock going. “We've been working hard all year to get back.”

Slippery Rock (19-4) had to work hard against Warren, which was carried on the back of Margo Loutzenhiser all night.

The junior scored 35 points and was a nightmare for a slew of Rockets to guard.

But Loutzenhiser was held to just two points in the fourth quarter and Slippery Rock took advantage, turning a four-point lead into one as large as 17 in the final frame.

“Margo is a tough matchup for anybody,” Osborn said. “Is it easier to guard a one-man team? Yeah.”

While Loutzenhiser was lighting it up for Warren (12-12), Slippery Rock was using a more balanced approach.

McDermott was hot early, draining three 3's in the first quarter to help the Rockets to a 20-13 lead. Freshman Hallie Raabe has a big second quarter with nine points to stake Slippery Rock to a 35-27 advantage at the half.

Anna Kadlubek, another freshman, hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter, including one at the buzzer to give the Rockets a seven-point cushion instead of just four.

And McCall had a huge second half with 13 of her 16 points in the final 24 minutes.

“I would hate to prepare for our team because we have balanced scoring,” Osborn said. “I think everyone had led us in scoring at least once this season.”

McCall said that's the Rockets' blueprint and it was executed to perfection against Warren in a game that played to their strength: fast-paced with lots of shots jacked up.

Slippery Rock made 28 field goals and took 65 shots. Warren was 21-of-58.

“Our team, we're not like Warren and have a girl that's going to drop 30-some,” McCall said. “We know everyone can score on this team and that if one person is off, someone else will be there to pick up the slack. That's why we're so successful.

Slippery Rock will get Harbor Creek Saturday in the title game at a site and time to be determined.

“I don't have words for what it means to get back,” said McDermott, who missed most of last season, including the district championship game with a torn ACL. “I'm just so proud of our team.”

WARREN 60

Taylor Childress 0-2 0-0 0, Alanna Hultberg 1-7 1-3 3, Rachel Wilson 2-8 0-2 4, Margo Loutzenhiser 10-21 11-11 35, Autumn Hultberg 7-19 0-0 14, Kelsey Stuart 0-2 0-0 0, Ceci Citro 0-0 0-0 0, Gracie Wood 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Lupole 1-1 2-2 4. Totals: 21-58 14-18 60.

SLIPPERY ROCK 75

Maryann Ackerman 3-5 0-1 6, Emma McDermott 7-18 1-02 18, Hallie Raabe 10-17 5-5 25, Jenna Heitzenrater 0-2 0-0 0, Macy McCall 5-11 4-5 16, Anna Kadlubek 3-12 0-0 9. Totals: 28-65 10-13 75.

Warren 13 14 24 9 — 60

Slippery Rock20 15 23 17 — 75

3-point goals: Loutzenhiser 4; McDermott 4, McCall 2, Kadflubek 3

Saturday: Slippery Rock, Harbor Creek in District 10 Class 5A championship game, site and time TBD