SLIPPERY ROCK — Haley Urben was looking forward to her senior season as a guard on the Slippery Rock High girls basketball team.

A projected starter, Urben was doing what she had done a million times on the basketball court during a scrimmage this fall when her right hand got caught in the jersey of an opposing player.

Then, she heard the crack.

It turned out to be a rare break of the trapezoid bone in her wrist, an injury that usually requires many months to heal.

And her season was over before it began.

“I was really excited for this year,” Urben said. “I knew it was my time to finally show people and myself what I could do and play the game I respect more than I can put into words.

“But,” Urben added. “it just didn’t happen that way.”

Instead, something else did: an opportunity to help her team in a different way than planned.

Urben has become a de facto coach for the Rockets this season, sitting in the first chair on the bench, leaning on her knees and barking out encouragement and advice as she did on senior night Thursday as Slippery Rock routed Titusville 62-31.

She was honored before the game along with classmates Riley McGonigle, Nicole Papley, Lauren Dietz and Becca Novak.

She would have liked to be playing the game on the court with them, but turned down an opportunity to make a symbolic start.

“If I’m going to be out on the floor, I’m going to compete,” said Urben of a plan to wrap the wrist and play for a minute before leaving the game. “And if I can’t compete at my fullest ability, I don’t want to. I wanted my classmates to have the opportunity to play together for the last time.”

Urben has helped out in other ways. She’s scouted the opposition, writing up reports for coach John Tabisz and assistant coach Amber Osborn.

Thursday, she watched Papley score 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter as Slippery Rock (16-4, 9-2) cruised against overmatched Titusville (4-18, 0-12).

Slippery Rock had 11 players score, including all the seniors.

Except for Urben. But she didn’t shed a tear about her fate.

“Instead of feeling sorry for myself,” Urben said. “I’m happy for my teammates and my classmates.”

Tabisz was counting on Urben to be a key contributor before the injury sabotaged her season.

“This has been so hard because she worked so hard in the offseason in the weight room,” Tabisz said. “To not be able to play a game, it’s very sad.”

Urben wasn’t sure what her role would be after the injury.

But she took it upon herself to help any way she could.

“Anything I could do to help them succeed is what I wanted to do,” Urben said. “If that was me not saying anything, or me saying something, or me scouting, I was willing to do it.”

Urben, who has played basketball since the first grade, won’t be cleared for at least six more weeks. Her hand and wrist, freshly cast-free, is weak and the muscles atrophied.

Urben, though, isn’t giving up on her desire to play again. She plans to walk-on to play in college.

“We’re going to get her in the gym and get her to play wherever she decides to go to school,” Tabisz said. “Just because you’re done playing for me doesn’t mean I’m done helping you.”

Urben is looking forward to the day when she can clutch a basketball in her hands again.

She has a lot of hard work ahead.

“I have two great coaches who I can’t thank enough,” Urben said, “who I know will help me with whatever I need to do.”

TITUSVILLE 31

Jasmine Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Shannon Moore 1-2 2-4 4, Jessica Herberg 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Gates 0-1 0-0 0, Shianne Donovan 1-1 0-0 2, Rachael Jacobs 3-10 0-2 6, Luellen Foltz 2-5 0-0 4, Nicole Galmish 3-8 0-0 7, Josie Peebles 0-0 0-0 0, Kaylee Deeter 2-10 0-0 6, Kasey Kostenbauder 1-4 0-1 2, Sarah Kurelowech 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 13-44 2-7 31.

SLIPPERY ROCK 62

Lauren Dietz 3-10 0-0 6, Becca Novak 1-4 0-0 2, Riley McGonigle 2-5 0-0 4, Alicia Bertozzi 2-4 0-0 4, Nicole Papley 9-16 1-1 19, Jenna Whitmer 1-2 1-2 3, Marissa Siebka 1-6 1-2 3, Bailey Boyd 2-4 0-0 4, Jocelyn Guy 3-8 0-0 6, Sedona Campbell 3-5 3-4 9, Stephanie Croll 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 28-67 6-9 62.

Titusville 6 2 9 14 — 31

Slippery Rock16 12 14 20 — 62

3-point goals: Titusville 3 (Galmish, Deeter 2)

JV: Slippery Rock 59-29

Saturday: Meadville at Slippery Rock