Top of Their Game
Both the Mars and Slippery Rock High girls basketball programs were facing a fair share of unknowns before the 2017-18 season started.
Mars was breaking in a freshman at point guard, counting on a sophomore in the post and were wondering how long dynamic junior guard Tai Johnson would miss with an off-season stress fracture in her right leg.
Meanwhile in Slippery Rock, the Rockets were presented with a daunting task of replacing four starters and eight seniors from a team that came within a few seconds and one missed shot from a District 10 title in 2016-17.
A lot of those questions were resoundingly answered.
Mars got Johnson back and made an epic run to the PIAA 5A championship — the first girls basketball title in school history.
Slippery Rock broke in a trio of standout freshmen, withstood the 10-game absence of do-it-all guard Macy McCall and won the District 10 5A crown.
For guiding their teams through the minefield of those unknowns, Petruska and Osborn were named 2017-18 Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Co-Coach of the Year.
Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic coach Molly Rottmann and A-C Valley coach Dave Sherman were also considered for the honor.
“I'm shocked,” Osborn said. “I feel like to Dana and Molly, that I'm kind of not worthy of it. This is something that never crossed my mind. I'm really humbled and grateful just to be mentioned with those other coaches.”
Petruska and Osborn have been intertwined in recent years.
Petruska won her 400th game as a coach at the Slippery Rock tip-off tournament last season.
During the Planets' state playoff run, Osborn helped break down opponent film and crafted detailed scouting reports for Petruska.
“She gave me her perspective and her player evaluation was spot on,” Petruska said. “That really helped me. For her to do what she did, I'm very thankful. We know each other and respect each other.”
Osborn's scouting reports have become the stuff of legend around Slippery Rock and the region.
Leading up to each game, Osborn handed out hand-written notes to her players about their upcoming opponent. Sometimes the packets were 13-pages thick.
She'd also scrawl a inspirational quote on the bottom of each page.
“She spends a lot of time on those reports,” said McCall after the District 10 championship game. “She starts when she gets up in the morning and she spends like 12 hours on them. I don't know how she has time to do it. They're amazing.”
Osborn said it was just something she needed to do to give her team an edge.“Knowledge is power,” Osborn said. “If you can figure out the opponent and what their tendencies are and what they like to do in certain situations, you have an advantage before the tip.”And her young players were able to digest the information.Slippery Rock started three freshmen for most of the season: point guard Anna Kadlubek, guard Maryann Ackerman and post Hallie Raabe.The three freshmen combined for 30 points per game and made a huge impact around junior Emma McDermott and seniors Jenna Heiztenrater and McCall.They played most of the season with a rather large chip on their shoulder.“I felt like nobody felt we'd be any good this year,” Osborn said. “I told the team before the season that everyone was looking at them like they were nobody to everybody. An easy win on the schedule. Until they proved themselves.”And they proved themselves quickly.Another group that proved themselves was Mars.Once Johnson returned after missing the first five games, in which Mars went 2-3, the Planets went 22-3 with her on the court, including three straight upset wins in the state playoffs culminating with the state championship victory.“After our WPIAL loss (to Oakland Catholic), we had 10, 11 days off and I think they began to see they belonged and we kind of squandered that opportunity,” Petruska said.They didn't squander their next one.After a terrible first half against Obama Academy in the first round of the state playoffs, the Planets found their footing and made their prodigious run to Hershey.“I can't say enough about the kids,” Petruska said. “They had fun doing it.”And they were all emotional after getting that state championship trophy.“To watch my kids react the way they reacted, was special,” Petruska said. “I've had teams before that come Feb. 12 they were ready for the season to be over. They were bored, miserable, whatever. I've never had a group this close, this supportive of each other, whether they were starters or didn't play. There was no pouting. No one was disgruntled. That, for the players, makes it that much more enjoyable.”
