Slippery Rock ready to rock and Rhoads

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

November 22, 2005 Last Updated: November 22, 2005 02:05 PM High School

SLIPPERY ROCK — It's hard to fathom it, but Slippery Rock High School girls basketball coach Gene Rodgers is expecting more of junior point guard Jence Rhoads.

All Rhoads did last year was average nearly 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game in winning the Butler County Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award.

But Rodgers said he believes Rhoads has only scratched the surface of what she can ultimately do.

"Each year we tell her we want her to do more and more," Rodgers said. "Unfortunately, she's so unselfish she says, 'Coach, I want to distribute more and more.' But she's such a team player, if we ask her to score more, that's what she'll do, and she'll still get people involved. That's a great point guard."

Rhoads will have to pick up the scoring because the Rockets lost two key contributors from last year's 18-6 team.

Guard Robin Craig, who averaged 11 points per game, and forward Emily Skoczlas, who pitched in six points per contest, were lost to graduation.

That's 17 points the Rockets need to replace.

But don't think it all has to come from Rhoads.

"This team is not a one-man show by any stretch," Rodgers said. "We think the supporting cast we have will be very strong for us."

Seniors Abby Basta and Casey McCaffrey return as key components of that supporting cast.

The duo combined to average 16 points per game last season, and they bring quickness, mid-range shooting touch and experience to the mix.

The two saw significant playing time as freshmen and have been starters since their sophomore seasons.

Basta is the key to the Rockets' defense, which plays to force turnovers and mistakes from the opponent to feed a frenetic, up-tempo offense.

When Basta twisted an ankle in the first-round playoff tilt with Villa Maria last season, Slippery Rock coughed up an eight-point second-half lead and lost.

"We're still planning on playing that way," Rodgers said. "Our game is predicated on turnovers and transition baskets. That's what we base our game off of.

"It was a shame Abby Basta got hurt in the playoff game," Rodgers added. "We still had a chance to win against a strong Villa Maria team."

Slippery Rock also is hoping for an inside presence from senior center Jessica Fry, who has shown flashes of brilliance in the paint the last two seasons.

Still, there are 17 points that need to be replace. Rodgers has a simple plan to do that.

"Everyone is going to have to contribute a few more," Rodgers said. "Robin Craig was our second-leading scorer and Emily Skoczlas worked crazy for us inside. We need to find that (17) points. We need everyone to make just one or two more baskets."

If the Rockets can do that, they can get back to the postseason for the third consecutive season.

This year, though, Slippery Rock is hoping it can win a first-round game.

"First, we have to get into the playoffs," Rodgers said. "But with the kind of experience we have, I feel confident we will get there. It will take a lot of hard work. No one is going to lay down for us."

The schedule isn't kind to Slippery Rock this season, either.

The Rockets have a slew of road games, particularly early in the season. The team isn't home for a six-game, four-week stretch from mid-December to mid-January.

That will make for some long bus rides home if Slippery Rock can't pull out some of those games.

"There aren't any days off," Rodgers said. "We're not home very often, and the ones we are away seem like they are way out there. That will just help us get better for the playoffs."

Rodgers and the Rockets are eager to begin the season.

"This is the hardest part. Once the season starts, that's when the fun begins," Rodgers said. "You can't afford to take a day off, a minute off, because if you take a minute off, someone else is getting better during that minute."

SLIPPERY ROCK HIGH SCHOOL2005-06 Basketball ScheduleDec. 2-3- at Farrell Tip-Off Tournament;

Dec. 6- at Mercer;

Dec. 9- SHARON;

Dec. 13- at Hickory;

Dec. 16- FRANKLIN;

Dec. 19- at Titusville;

Dec. 22- GROVE CITY;

Dec. 27-28- at Seneca ValleyChristmas Tournament

Jan. 4- at General McLane;

Jan. 6- at Indiana;

Jan. 9- at Erie East;

Jan. 12- at Meadville;