SLIPPERY ROCK — There are times when Morgan Siebka is standing in the huddle, wondering who will offer words of encouragement to her teammates.

Then the 5-foot-7 junior guard on the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team makes a realization.

Everyone is looking at her for that pep talk.

“I've always been the baby of the team,” Siebka said. “When I was in eighth grade, I was tagging along with the older girls. When I was a freshman, I had Adele Campbell, Sarah Cessar, Ali Doyle and the Rhoads twins (Karly and Kourtney). Last year, I had Molly (Weitzel) and Jackie (Basta).

“This year, it's the first year I honestly feel it,” Siebka added. “I honestly feel like I am a leader.”

Siebka has grown up a lot in her first two years on the varsity roster.

She came off the bench as a freshman to provide a spark with her speed and relentless defensive pressure. Last season as a sophomore, she averaged 15.7 points per game and shared the Butler Eagle Girls Player of the Year honor with Union's Tina Lipps.

This year, Siebka already has elevated her game on both ends of the floor.

Siebka has been able to avoid the rash of fouls that haunted her last season.

She is more careful on defense, yet still is averaging more than four steals per game.

“My favorite saying to her now is, ‘You have to use your head,'” said first-year Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Christin Miller. “She looks at me, nods and says, ‘Yes. Head coach.'”

Siebka also has been working on her outside shot — a part of her game that was relatively non-existent just a year ago.

Siebka relied on her speed to get to the hoop. Now, she can spot up for a mid-range jumper or 3-pointer and drain them far more often.

“Last year, I didn't start to shoot 3-pointers until almost the end of the season,” Siebka said. “I've gotten more comfortable with it. I've had to. It used to be I'd get all my points on layups and foul shots.”

Teams in Slippery Rock's region know all too well what happens when Siebka has an open lane to the basket. Rockets' foes have been far more stingy when it comes to letting her get into the paint.

Still, Siebka is averaging 16.5 points per game this season.

Miller said she could have an even more impressive scoring average, but has been seeing the floor well and setting up her teammates.

“The best part about Morgan is she is a very good team player,” Miller said. “She's not necessarily going to penetrate to hope to score. She's going to penetrate to dish it out to our outside shooters or into the post — whoever is open. She makes our team a lot harder to guard.”

Siebka, though, isn't satisfied.

A gym rat since she was a little girl, Siebka believes she can get much better — a scary thought for teams who have Slippery Rock on their schedule.

“Honestly, there's room for improvement in every aspect of my game,” Siebka said.

That's because she has stiff competition in her own home.

Siebka's younger sister, Marissa, is in the eighth grade and already is 5-9 and growing.

She gives Morgan quite a challenge in the spirited one-on-one battles the sisters wage.

“Well,” Morgan says before pausing, “I'm not going to lie. She's ‘Shaq-ed' me a few times. But I can dribble between her legs.”

Morgan is looking forward to possibly playing with her not-so-little sister next season.

For now, she is focusing on what she can do this year to get the Rockets (4-2, 1-1 Region 5) back to the playoffs.

“It's just a matter of playing smarter,” she said. “Knowing when I can use the skills I have acquired and always being ready to step up.”