SLIPPERY ROCK — The “good” Rockets showed up.

In what has been a season of dramatic swings for the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team, Thursday's 64-29 home win over Meadville had the needle pointing up again.

“The team that we all cheer for showed up tonight,” said Slippery Rock coach Christin Miller, laughing.

That hasn't always been the case of the Rockets (6-4, 2-2), who have been wildly inconsistent.

In its wins, Slippery Rock is averaging 54 points per game. In their four losses, the Rockets have averaged a mere 33 points.

Miller didn't expect the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act this season, and she has taken steps to prevent more bipolar play from her team.

“Finding consistency has been our nemesis,” Miller said. “It's a matter of getting them mentally there. Sometimes, they just melt. So, in practice, I'm trying to take them to the breaking point. If I can do that in practice, stop them, and have them reboot and push through it, hopefully by the end of January we can hit our stride.”

The last two games may be proof the tactic is working.

After a 64-15 loss in a debacle Saturday at Hopewell, the Rockets have won two region games in a row and have been consistent in doing it.

Against Meadville (2-8, 1-2), Slippery Rock shook off a slow start and stormed out to a 19-8 lead after the first quarter on the strength of 10 points in the period by junior forward Nicole Papley.

The Rockets led 34-18 at the half and put the game away with a 20-1 edge over the Bulldogs in the third quarter.

Papley led all scorers with 24 points. Senior guard Haley Angerett added 10 for Slippery Rock.

“We need to come mentally prepared for every game,” Angerett said. “Some games some of us are and some of us are not.

“I'm still excited,” Angerett added. “Our record may not show it, but we still have a lot of potential. I think a District 10 championship is still in our future.”

Slippery Rock had 11 different players score in the win over the Bulldogs as Miller dug deep into her rotation by design.

“This was great for my bench,” Miller said. “I got them on the court and they played a lot of minutes. That's what's going to make us better. If we can go eight, nine deep — even just a minute or two here and there — that makes you a state playoff team.”

Before the season, Miller said she believed her team was capable of winning the District 10 Class AAA championship and she hasn't wavered on that statement.

“I said from the beginning that we were a D-10 championship contender and I still think that way, but my kids need to play consistently. We have some very hungry kids. My two seniors want that D-10 trophy.”

MEADVILLE 29

Katie DeWalt 2-5 0-1 5, Carley Glatch 0-2 0-1 0, Shawntia Vactor-Pope 1-6 1-2 3, Cadi McCoy 2-6 1-2 5, Frank Mullen 3-5 0-0 6, Kiashiah Newsome 3-13 0-0 7, Tomera Schweter 0 2-5 2, Haillee Wickham 0-1 1-2 1, Alex Smith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 12-40 4-13 29.

SLIPPERY ROCK 64

Morgan Siebka 1-2 1-2 3, Marissa Siebka 3-9 1-2 7, Haley Angerett 4-7 0-0 10, Riley McGonigle 0-0 2-2 2, Nicole Papley 10-12 2-2 24, Lauren Dietz 2-5 2-2 6, Emily Campbell 1-5 0-0 2, Sarah Kadlubek 1-5 0-0 2, Haley Urban 2-3 0-0 4, Kaitlyn Spangler 1-3 0-0 2, Becca Novak 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 26-53 8-10 64.

Meadville 8 10 1 10—29

Slippery Rock19 15 20 10—64

3-point goals: Meadville 1 (Newsome). Slippery Rock 4 (Angerett 2, Papley 2)

JV: Meadville 40-37

Saturday: Slippery Rock at OLSH