SLIPPERY ROCK — The two teams combined to win by 63 points, force 60 turnovers, had 21 different players score and put 28 bodies on the floor.

For the Butler and Slippery Rock high school boys basketball teams, the opening game of the season was a walk in the new Rock Box Friday night.

Butler led 19-2 after the first quarter, set the mercy clock in motion one minute into the final period and routed Redbank Valley 60-17.

Slippery Rock stormed out to a similar fast start, leading by 21 points at halftime and by 35 midway through the third quarter before calling out its own form of mercy with mass substitutions in a 66-46 triumph.

That sets the stage for the matchup Saturday that will pit the Golden Tornado and the Rockets against each other for the first time in more than two decades.

"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Slippery Rock coach Sean Strickland. "Hopefully, there will be a nice crowd. This is something (Butler coach Joe Lewandowski) had talked about doing for a while. This is so nice for the kids to have that little close rivalry."

The players also will have plenty of chances to score, it seems.

Both Butler and Slippery Rock set out to push the tempo Friday night. Both succeeded.

The Golden Tornado attacked the basket with their guards and attacked RedbankValley just as relentlessly with defensive pressure and on the boards.

Butler forced 30 turnovers and limited the Bulldogs to 10 rebounds — and only two on the offensive boards.

It was as if Lewandowski let his rabid team out of its cage.

"At this time of the year, we're ready to play," Lewandowski said. "We're tired of practicing against each other. We're tired of seeing each other every day. We want to compete and get after it. To a man, every guy who got in there played hard."

Cody Fleeger and Nick Powers each scored 10 points to lead Butler's balanced scoring attack.

Butler's bench outscored the starters 31-29.

"That means we are sharing the basketball," Lewandowski said.

It made for a long night for first-year Redbank Valley coach Pat Craig.

The Karns City High and Clarion University graduate became the Bulldogs coach only three weeks ago after Don Wanninger stepped down.

Craig, who was hired by the Redbank school district only two months ago as a U.S. history teacher, said he just fell into the position.

"They came to me and told me about it," Craig said. "I jumped on it and went with it."

Craig said he has his work cut out for him. He's still getting to know his players and what they can do on the floor.

He's hoping for better things than what he saw againstButler.

"It's been sort of a whirlwind, but I like the guys I have," Craig said. "It's just a matter of getting them all on the same page and working together."

That's not a problem for Slippery Rock these days. Most of the roster has played together under Strickland for years, and their roles are already defined.

The Rockets will rely on their big three of seniors Zack Ejzak, Brian Kelly and Matt Shearer, and they came through againstClarion.

Just two weeks removed from catching passes for the football team, Ejzak scored 19 points and had eight assists, Kelly added 18 points and Shearer 10.

"To get double figures from those guys — we expect double figures from those guys," Strickland said. "If you're going to try to shut one down, the other two are going to step up."

The ultimate test for both Butler and Slippery Rock will come Saturday night.

"Slippery Rock has the best team they have had in years," Lewandowski said. "It will be a battle. They are ready to go and they'll be excited."

REDBANK VALLEY 17Ryan Radaker 2-10 0-1 4, Chris Fox 0-0 0-0 0, Mike Dawson 1-5 1-2 3, Kevin Doverspike 1-4 0-0 2, Doug Bish 0-1 2-4 2, Trevor Reed 1-6 0-0 2, Chris Clemens 1-1 0-0 2, Nate Bowser 1-2 0-0 2, A.J. McCrea 0-2 0-0 0.

Totals: 7-31 3-7 17

BUTLER 60Mike Pratkanis 2-5 1-1 5, Jeff Slater 2-3 0-0 6, Cody Fleeger 5-7 0-2 10, AustinSnodgrass 1-2 1-2 3, Logan Renwick 1-2 0-0 2, Nick Rossmiller 3-7 0-1 6, Brian Jendesky 0-2 0-0 0, Jeff Thompkins 1-4 0-0 2, Ryan Melder 1-2 0-0 2, John Noel 1-1 0-0 2, David Schmidt 1-1 0-0 2, Kristos Klutinoty 4-11 1-2 9, Nick Powers 5-6 0-0 10, Bob Swartwout 0-1 2-2 1.

Totals: 27-54 4-10 60.

Redbank Valley 2 8 3 4—17Butler 19 11 20 10—603-point goals: Slater 2

Saturday: Butler at Slippery Rock, 7:30 p.m.

CLARION 46Drew Vandermeer 8-18 1-4 19, Scott Larson 2-6 0-0 4, Cody Zachen 2-2 2-2 6, Cody Renninger 0-2 0-2 0, Ben Brady 3-4 0-1 8, Sheldon Miles 1-2 3-5 5, Derek Craig 2-5 0-0 4.

Totals: 18-39 6-14 46

SLIPPERYROCK 66Ethan Geisler 1-4 2-3 4, Derrick Orloski 2-5 0-0 4, Matt Shearer 5-10 0-0 10, Brian Kelly 7-13 3-3 18, Zach Ejzak 5-10 8-10 19, Brant Sloan 2-2 0-2 4, Brian Giesler 2-6 0-0 5, Nick Cress 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Gordon 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Waryanka 0-1 0-0 0, Steve Drake 0-0 0-0 0, Alec McDeavitt 0-0 0-0 0, Cole Knight 0-2 0-0 0, Brent Ayers 1-2 0-0 2.

Totals: 25-55 13-18 66

Clarion 8 10 6 22—46Slippery Rock 18 21 16 11—663-point goals: Vandermeer 2, Brady 2; Kelly, Ejzak, Giesler

Saturday: Butler at Slippery Rock, 7:30 p.m.