SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock High boys basketball coach SeanStrickland sat on his chair at the end of the bench and shook his head.

"I have a headache," he said.

The pounding in his temples came as a result of watching his team fumble its way through a Friday night's worth of turnovers, missed shots and missed opportunities in a 48-31 home loss to Hickory.

"They took away our strengths, and they made certain guys have to step up and knock down shots," Strickland said. "And they didn't. We had seven air balls in the game."

The shooting woes came just three nights after the Rockets scored 81 points in a win over Franklin — their first triumph over that team since 1988.

SlipperyRock scored 26 points in the first quarter in that win. The Rockets didn't reach 26 points againstHickory until 5:20 remained in the game.

Turnovers — 14 in the first half and 21 in the game — had a lot to do with that.

SlipperyRock (2-4, 1-1) had 24 turnovers againstFranklin, but it was able to overcome them with hot shooting.

The shooting was downright frigid Friday night as the Rockets sank just 12 of their 40 shots in the contest.

Hickory's defense had a lot to do with that.

The Hornets (2-2, 1-0) were determined to keep Slippery Rock senior guards RhettGordon and Zack Ejzak from penetrating and creating scoring opportunities for themselves, or dishing off to the perimeter players for open 3-point looks.

"They took away our two slashers, Gordon and Zack," Strickland said.

Gordon did more to take himself out of the game with foul trouble.

He played sparingly in the second quarter with three fouls and eventually fouled out with 4:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, leaving with only two points.

Ejzak scored 10 to pace the Rockets, but he fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

"We were really worried about those two guys on the offensive glass," said Hickory coach Nick Cannone. "We watched them about four times, so we were prepared for them."

NickErdesky was a force inside for Hickory. He scored only eight points, but he wreaked havoc on the Rockets by altering shots and grabbing rebounds and loose balls.

David Lumpp led Hickory with 13 points.

Strickland was dismayed by the loss, but more so by the way it occurred.

The coach said his team was not mentally or physically tough enough.

"At one point, one of our guards got bit by one of their kids," Strickland said. "I know they were throwing elbows at our kids. How do you react to that? Does it upset you and take you off your game? Or do you get tough mentally and say, 'Go ahead and do that, I'm going to take it to you next time?'

"We have to be stronger mentally ... fight for every rebound, fight for every loose ball. We didn't do a very good job of that tonight."

Slippery Rock trailed by 10 at the half and managed just five points in the third quarter to fall behind 31-20. Hickory led by as many as 16 late in the third quarter.

Slippery Rock has not been in many big games like the one it found itself in against Hickory Friday.

Strickland said this experience may pay off in the second half of the season.

"They came out and they took it from us," Strickland said. "We lost because they were tougher than us."

HICKORY 48Taylor Englebaugh 2-8 0-0 6, Seth Baughman 2-6 0-1 4, Jaymee Shephard 0-0 1-2 1, Jordan Benes 0-2 0-2 0, David Lumpp 4-10 3-5 13, Andy Banas 3-6 3-4 9, Brian Szabo 1-7 3-4 5, Nick Erdesky 4-8 0-0 8, Matt Durisko 1-3 0-0 2.

Totals: 17-50 10-18 48

SLIPPERY ROCK 31EthanGeisler 0-1 0-1 0, Rhett Gordon 1-5 0-0 2, Nick Cress 0-0 0-2 0, Kendall Mahan 2-7 0-0 4, Brian Kelly 2-10 1-2 5, Zack Ejzak 4-11 1-1 10, Matt Shearer 2-2 4-5 8, Vince Papley 0-2 0-0 0, Derrick Orloski 1-1 0-0 2, Sean Schrieber 0-1 0-0 0.=B> Totals: 12-40 6-11 31

Hickory 16 9 6 17—48Slippery Rock 11 4 5 11—313-point goals: Englebaugh 2, Lumpp, Ejzak

JV: Hickory 56-55

Tuesday: Greenville at Slippery Rock