SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock High girls basketball team may be a dark horse once the District 10 Class AAA playoffs begin, which is fine with coach Christin Miller.

She watched her Rockets dismantle visiting Saegertown Wednesday night by a score of 65-29. Slippery Rock (13-6) has now won four games in a row and nine of its last 11.

“We're in third place in Region 5 behind Franklin and Hickory and our chances of making the playoffs are pretty good,” said Miller. “I really believe we can surprise some people and make a run at the District 10 title.”

The Rockets have had to deal with adversity this season.

Senior guard Morgan Siebka, who was the Butler Eagle co-Player of the Year as a sophomore and averaged 14.2 points per game as a junior, suffered a major knee injury in April.

Cleared to play Dec. 4, Siebka was in the process of getting back to form on the court before suffering a concussion during last Saturday's win over Seneca Valley.

“Whether or not she can come back and play this season is still up in the air,” said Miller. “She is a leader whether she's on the court or not. She's the glue that holds the team together, but not having her on the floor is a tough transition for us.”

But other players have stepped up, including guard Haley Angerett, the only other senior on the squad besides Siebka.

Angerett scored a game-high 23 points Wednesday and now leads the Rockets with 12.4 points per contest.

“Last year, she was an outside shooter,” Miller said of Angerett. “This season, she has developed a baseline drive and is now a threat all over the floor. She rebounds well and her defense has improved at least tenfold.”

The progression in Angerett's offensive game came out of necessity.

“Teams were taking away my outside shot, so I had to find another way to score,” said Angerett, who can still drain shots from beyond the arc. She had three of those against Saegertown.

Without Morgan Siebka, the Rockets' latest starting lineup included Angerett, fellow guards Marissa Siebka and Riley McGonigle, forward Nicole Papley and center Emily Campbell.

“We each seem to bring something different to the floor,” said Angerett. “Emily is a great rebounder, Nicole brings versatility, Marissa has quickness and Riley handles the ball well. When we are all doing our job, we are a hard team to beat.”

SAEGERTOWN 29

Arianna Hanley 4 2-2 12, Rachel DiBartolomeo 1 2-4 4, Elizabeth Lilly 1 0-0 2, Sadie Mondi 1 3-3 5, Jessica Tomiczek 3 0-0 6. Totals: 10 7-9 29.

SLIPPERY ROCK 65

Haley Angerett 10 0-0 23, Emily Campbell 1 2-2 4, Lauren Dietz 2 0-2 4, Sarah Kadlubek 3 0-0 7, Becca Novak 1 0-0 2, Nicole Papley 5 3-4 13, Haley Urben 1 2-2 4, Marissa Siebka 2 0-0 4, Alicia Bertozzi 2 0-0 4, Riley McGonigle 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 7-10 65.

Saegertown 2 6 12 9—29

Slippery Rock19 6 21 19—65

3-point goals: Saegertown 2 (Hanley 2); Slippery Rock 4 (Angerett 3, Kadlubek)

JV: Slippery Rock 35-27

Saturday: Slippery Rock at Indiana