SLIPPERY ROCK — Anna Kadlubek had to learn when to turn off her brain and when to leave it switched on.

It has been a difficult balance for the junior point guard on the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team to find.

A tightrope she's had to carefully walk between control and chaos.

“I've definitely worked on staying more calm and trying to be less spastic,” Kadlubek said. “I was always over-thinking things.”

Like when to take a shot and when to pass it to a teammate.

It's often the most difficult thing for a point guard to grasp and Kadlubek said she is getting better at it.

Her coach, Amber Osborn, agrees.

“She's understanding why we're doing the things we're doing,” Osborn said. “She, like (Hallie Raabe) is starting to think like another coach on the floor.”

Kadlubek got by on pure talent as a freshman. Explosive and lightning quick, Kadlubek could get to the hoop simply by being faster than everyone else.

Now as a junior, her game is more refined.

It's had to be.

Injuries took two experienced pieces off the board in Maryann Ackerman, lost for the year with a torn ACL, and Raabe, who missed a bulk of the season with a badly sprained ankle.

That left Kadlubek as the only returning starter on the floor for a large chunk of the year.

She became a steady presence when the team needed her the most.

“I think this year, more so than any other, it makes you nervous when Anna is not on the floor,” Osborn said. “She's put the team on her back at times.”

Kadlubek said she knew the team was looking at her to lead with Ackerman and Raabe out — especially with first-year starters Kelly Benson, Bronwyn McCoy, Gianna Bedel and Ella McDermott surrounding her.

“With people out, I had to step up my game,” Kadlubek said. “I wanted to be a role model.”

Kadlubek was able to help Slippery Rock to its fifth consecutive region title and fourth straight trip to the District 10 championship game.

She's averaging a team-leading 12.4 points per game for the Rockets, who open the PIAA Class 5A playoffs against Hollidaysburg at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Farrell High School.

“It definitely gives me more confidence in myself that I was able to help my team,” Kadlubek said.

Kadlubek and Osborn have a unique relationship.

Osborn was a standout point guard at Grove City High and at Slippery Rock University.

Kadlubek, though, is a different kind of player than what Osborn was when she played.

Still, Kadlubek wants to impress her coach.

“I do feel a little pressure, but I put it on myself,” Kadlubek said. “I can't be exactly like her, but I see her a role model.”

The loss to Grove City stung Osborn, Kadlubek and the rest of the Rockets hard. Osborn said it was the toughest loss for her in her four seasons as the head coach.

“It was hard,” Kadlubek said. “But Grove City is a great team.”

Few gave Slippery Rock much of a chance to win the region let alone reach another D-10 title game.

As difficult as the loss to the Eagles was, Kadlubek said it hasn't diminished what the team has accomplished.

“At first it was like, 'Dang, we just lost the district title game,'” Kadlubek said. “After we thought about it for awhile, we realized how far we have come with everything that has happened and we all know we have another chance at states to play and see how far we can go.”