How Slippery Rock basketball senior Madison Romanovich has elevated her play, attracted college attention
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The standard Madison Romanovich established for herself last season was lofty, but one she appears able and ready to surpass.
Four games into the high school girls basketball season, the senior wing is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.5 steals per game for Slippery Rock (3-1).
“I am a bit surprised that I’m putting up those numbers this early in the season, but it shows that all of the work I’ve put in is paying off,” Romanovich said. “I played for two AAU teams and went to a lot of different camps during the offseason. I believe my basketball IQ is higher now, and I’m more confident.”
Romanovich scored 31 points in a win over West Middlesex last week, and is just 138 points shy of 1,000 for her varsity career. A position switch at the start of her junior season helped to unveil her potential on the court.
“When I took over, she was a point guard, and played there during our first scrimmage (in November 2024),” Rockets second-year coach Jeff Steele said. “But I could tell she had the build and the strength to play on the wing. She had all the tools.
“She was upset with the move at first, but 430 points later, I think she’s OK with it. This is Madison’s team. She’s a three-year starter and very determined.”
Romanovich responded to her new role by contributing 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and was one of six players named to the Butler Eagle’s first team last spring.
She’s receiving interest from Division III schools Bethany, Mount Aloysius, Pitt-Greensburg and Saint Vincent, and Division II’s Malone University in Ohio.
Her scoring average is what jumps out the most, but her ability to have a hand in everything the fast-paced Rockets do is invaluable.
“Our goals in every game are to have at least 70 possessions, rebound half our misses, and score at least 51 points,” Steele said. “The other night against Titusville (a 62-31 win), we had a number of shots that were way off, but we were there for the rebounds and got the putbacks.”
Teammate Brielle Jordan (14.3 points, 4.5 assists) leads a strong supporting cast, and the Rockets are aiming to improve on last year’s effort that included an 18-8 record and trip to the state playoffs.
“We have what it takes to do that,” Romanovich said. “We’re all committed and love to compete. We understand our roles.”
Romanovich is one of three team captains; Jordan and Ryleigh Cornelius are the others.
“All three of our captains have different personalities,” Steele said. “Ryleigh is a grinder, Brielle is the vocal one and Madison wants to put the team on her back, go out and produce night after night.
“Even last year averaging 16 (points) and seven (rebounds), we could count on that from her every game. She was very consistent.”
Romanovich was pulled from the season-opening game against Kennedy Catholic with a strained calf muscle in her left leg, the same injury she sustained in a District 10 playoff game against Harbor Creek in February.
“It was precautionary. We didn’t want to risk further injury for a non-region game,” Steele said of the latest episode. “She immediately went into treatment and didn’t miss a game.”
Romanovich now makes sure to adequately stretch before games.
“I’m doing what I can to prevent it from happening again,” she said.
