SLIPPERY ROCK — The Rockets were getting to the basket and the shots were falling early against Oil City.

It was the perfect recipe for an upset.

Unfortunately for the Slippery Rock High boys basketball team, those shots stopped dropping through the net and the Rockets watched an early 12-point lead get wiped out by the Oilers in a 58-49 home loss Thursday night.

“I think going into the fourth quarter, if we make a couple more shots, then I think it's a tighter basketball game,” Slippery Rock coach Phil Bushre said. “They were able to pull away a little bit late. We got good shots, either in an offense, or making good plays, but we just didn't make anything.”

Slippery Rock (5-13, 1-11) was hot from the floor early, shooting 7 of 9 in the first quarter to take a 19-11 lead.

The Rockets extended that advantage to 23-11 early in the second quarter, but went on a nearly 10-minute scoring drought that spilled deep into the third quarter. During that span, Oil City scored 15 straight points for a 26-23 lead.

“We hit them early,” said Slippery Rock junior point guard Jake Whitmer, “but we just went cold.”

Slippery Rock was just 11 of 31 from the field after the hot start.

That allowed Oil City (15-2, 10-2) to rally behind the duo of Logan Way and Andrew Williams.

Way finished with 21 points, including nine in the third quarter, and Williams ended up with 18 points, 11 coming in the fourth.

Slippery Rock's last lead came at 40-39 with 6:48 remaining in the game when Whitmer hit a 3-pointer, was fouled, and completed the four-point play.

Whitmer finished with 21 points to lead the Rockets.

It wasn't enough, though, as the Oilers went on a quick 9-0 run to seize control of the game. Slippery Rock never got closer in the final minutes.

“Oil City is tied for first and we jumped out on them,” Bushre said. “One of the things we pride ourself on is never backing down, never quitting. I'm super proud of them.”

OIL CITY 58

Andrew Williams 6-12 5-6 18, Logan Way 8-9 5-7 21, Cullen Flaherty 0-1 0-0 0, Frank Serbati 1-2 0-0 2, Devon Gieb 6-14 0-3 12, Jackson McFall 0-0 1-2 1, Mario Ragsdale 0-0 1-2 1, Tyler Lukasiak 1-2 0-0 3. Totals: 22-40 12-20 58.

SLIPPERY ROCK 49

Jake Whitmer 7-13 6-6 21, Brady Kadlubek 3-9 0-0 7, Matt Badger 1-2 01 2, Mark Cessar 1-2 1-2 4, Nate Popejoy 0-0 0-0 0, Camren 2-5 2-4 6, Ryan Dutton 4-10 1-2 9, Aaron Rager 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 10-15 49.

Oil City 11 9 17 21 — 58

Slippery Rock19 4 12 14 — 49

3-point goals: Oil City 2 (Williams, Lukasiak); Slippery Rock 3 (Whitmer, Kadlubek, Cessar)

JV: Oil City 53-36

Saturday: Sharon at Slippery Rock