Maryann Ackerman scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the second half as the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team gutted out a 28-26 win over rival Grove City in a game dominated by defense.

Grove City led 9-8 at the half, but Slippery Rock scored 16 points in the third quarter — keyed by nine points from Ackerman — to take the lead for good.

Ackerman spent much of the first half on the bench in foul trouble.

Even though she was held scoreless, Ashley Shea made her presence felt for Slippery Rock (6-3, 3-0).

“Ashley Shea was a savior on hustle plays and defensive stops,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn.

Defense was certainly the word of the night.

Grove City allowed just three Slippery Rock players to score. Meanwhile, the Rockets limited the Eagles to just four players in the scoring column.

Abby Biddle scored 14 to pace the Eagles (7-1, 1-1).

GROVE CITY 26

Clara Hannon 3, Becca Santom 7, Abby Biddle 14, Katie McDowell 2.

SLIPPERY ROCK 28

Emma McDermott 3, Anna Kadlubek 8, Maryann Ackerman 17

Grove City 7 2 8 9 — 26

Slippery Rock6 2 16 4 — 28

Knoch 45, Apollo-Ridge 29 — Lauren Cihonski scored 15 points as the Knights overcame a sluggish first quarter to down Apollo-Ridge.

Madilyn Boyer added 12 for the Knights (5-4, 3-1).

APOLLO RIDGE 29

Maddie Moore 10

KNOCH 45

Madilyn Boyer 12, Skye Burkett 9, Lauren Cihonski 15, Terann McElravy 2, Jaylee Lassinger 7

Apollo Ridge 8 6 6 9 — 29

Knoch5 13 13 14 — 45

Monday: Knoch at Burrell

Franklin Regional 52, Mars 51 — The Planets stormed back in the fourth quarter and led by a point in the waning seconds, but a buzzer-beater by Franklin Regional toppled Mars.

Tai Johnson scored 23 points to pace the Planets (8-2).

Bella Pelaia added 11 points and Ava Black 10 for Mars.

FRANKLIN REGIONAL 52

Konek 24, Yanigk 16.

MARS 51

Tai Johnson 23, Ellie Coffield 2, Bella Pelaia 11, Ava Black 10, Kaitlyn Pelaia 2

Franklin Regional 12 14 17 9 — 52

Mars10 10 15 16 — 51

Tuesday: West Mifflin at Mars

Swimming

Reagan Suorsa had a part in three wins for the Slippery Rock girls, claiming first in the 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle and swimming the anchor leg on the first-place 200 freestyle relay team in the Rockets' 101-40 loss to Oil City.

Heston Suorsa was the lone boy winner for Slippery Rock, placing first in the 100 backstroke, in a 116-21 defeat.

Girls

Oil City 101, Slippery Rock 40

200 medley relay: 1-Oil City 2:16.0

200 freestyle: 1-Morgan Stover (OC) 2:17.17

200 individual medley: 1-Riley Weller (OC) 2:36.33

50 freestyle: 1-Reagan Suorsa (SR) 27.81

100 freestyle: 1-Dana Wenner (OC) 1:00.56

500 freestyle: 1-Suorsa (SR) 6:07.56

200 freestyle relay: 1-Slippery Rock (Kaitlin Novak, Alana Colvin, Alysa Hartle, Reagan Suorsa) 2:04.82

100 backstroke: 1-Wenner (OC) 1:09.0

100 breaststroke: 1-Stover (OC) 1:15.87

400 freestyle relay: 1-Oil City 4:52

Boys

Oil City 116, Slippery Rock 21

200 medley relay: 1-Oil City 1:51.18

200 freestyle: 1-John Wheeler (OC) 2:06.43

200 individual medley: 1-Nick Richar (OC) 2:25.53

50 freestyle: 1-Bobby Wenner (OC) 25.39

100 butterfly: 1-Connor Rankin (OC) 1:05.76

100 freestyle: 1-Tommy Schneider (OC) 51.75

500 freestyle: 1-Zach Malek (OC) 5:40.04

200 freestyle relay: 1-Oil City 1:42.10

100 backstroke: 1-Schneider (OC) 58.73

100 breaststroke: 1-Heston Suorsa (SR) 1:10.86

400 freestyle relay: 1-Oil City 4:52.31

Rifle

Andrew Arbanis, Riley Rodgers, Alec Stamm, Taylor Gilliland, Kayla Kopelic and Aidan Ketterer each shot 100s as Butler edged Hemfield 798-58x to 795-56x.