SLIPPERY ROCK — Same song, different verse.

It has become a broken record for the Slippery Rock High boys basketball team these days: close, but not close enough.

Tuesday was the latest one that got away.

Slippery Rock (2-8, 0-6) trailed visiting Farrell 56-46 with 1:33 remaining in the game, but closed that gap to three and had the ball with eight seconds remaining.

But the Rockets could only get off a desperation 3-pointer by Bobby Paczkowski that missed the mark in a 56-53 loss to the Steelers.

“I appreciate the guys coming back, playing hard and not giving up,” said Slippery Rock coach Phil Bushre. “But, really, it shouldn't have come down to that point. Turnovers. Missed opportunities. Missed free throws. The inability to execute.”

And the inability to get a good 3-point shot after a timeout.

The Rockets tried to get the ball to Dustin Mellot, who has been a 3-point shooting machine over the past few games, but Farrell denied him the ball.

Paczkowski, who hit a big 3-pointer seconds earlier, got the ball, but had to heave up an off-balance attempt.

“We didn't execute what we called in the timeout,” Bushre said. “That's not really what we drew up.”

Things looked good early for Slippery Rock as it jumped out to a 5-0 lead.

But Farrell went on a 14-2 run to take a 14-7 lead and only trailed once after that when Slippery Rock point guard Ryan Thompson hit a 3-pointer for a 43-42 lead with 5:32 remaining in the game.

Farrell (5-7, 2-5) nearly blew the big lead.

The Steelers missed three front ends of one-and-one situations to give Slippery Rock life.

“We missed some free throws, and with any team, you miss those free throws, you let that other team back in the game” said Farrell coach Roland Shannonhouse. “Especially with they way (Slippery Rock) shoots. Man, oh my goodness, they can shoot the ball.”

Mellot scored 16 points to lead the Rockets, including four more 3-pointers.

Thompson finished with nine and Caleb Whitney came off the bench to score nine, as well.

Jason Page led Farrell with 14 points and was the only Steeler to make a shot that wasn't a layup.

In fact, the Steelers got 42 of their points in the paint.

“Our failure to be intense on defense ... killed us,” Bushre said. “It's the story of our life right now. It's not like we are losing by 30, which is really frustrating. We're just not executing and finishing at the end.”

Farrell is starting to do the things it hadn't done earlier in the season.

“They are starting to understand there is a life expectancy on this season,” Shannonhouse said. “They have to pick up their intensity to make some noise in this section and they have started to do that.”

FARRELL 56Lawrence Hughes 6-10 0-1 12, William Murray 3-7 1-4 7, Vernon Stewart 0-1 0-0 0, Josh Jennings 2-9 1-4 5, Lamont Peterson 3-7 0-0 6, Jason Page 5-12 1-2 14, Ramon Pierce 1-1 0-0 2, Arlen Brewer 3-10 2-2 8, Tyrone Archie 1-2 0-0 2.

Totals: 24-59 5-13 56.

SLIPPERY ROCK 53Dan Bertozzi 0-3 0-0 0, Ryan Thompson 3-10 2-6 9, Caleb Whitney 3-3 3-4 9, Ryan Currie 1-3 0-0 2, Ty Uddy 3-3 0-0 6, Sean White 3-11 2-4 8, Dustin Mellot 5-7 2-4 16, Kyle Bell 0-0 0-0 0, Bobby Paczkowski 1-3 0-0 3, Mike Rummel 0-1 0-0 0.

Totals: 19-44 9-18 53.

Farrell 14 9 15 18—56Slippery Rock 10 12 14 17—533-point goals: Farrell 3 (Page 3); Slippery Rock 6 (Thompson, Mellot 4, Paczkowski).

JV Score: Farrell 54-52

Thursday: Slippery Rock at George Junior Republic