Right on Schedule
SLIPPERY ROCK — Prior to his first season as Slippery Rock High’s boys basketball coach, AJ Motta believed the Rockets could be above .500 in his third year.
At the time, it may have seemed like wishful thinking. Slippery Rock had combined for just 11 wins in the previous four seasons. Yet, here the Rockets are, preparing for the District 10 Class 4A playoffs with a 13-9 record.
It’s the most wins for the program in a single season since the 2007-08 squad went 15-10.
The Rockets open postseason play by taking on rival Grove City at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sharon High School.
Slippery Rock went 3-20 and 5-14 in Motta’s first two years.
“The last couple of years were foundation years,” Motta said. “We were rebuilding and retooling and had a lot of experience coming back this year. I thought this could be a big statement year for us.”
That optimism was based largely on the return of point guard John Sabo and swingman Jacob Wolak, who both started last year as sophomores, and a number of other players who saw starts previous to this season. Dylan Gordon, Walker Vogan and Elam Pyle, now fixtures in the starting lineup, were in that group.
“Winning games has helped to keep us motivated,” said Gordon, a junior shooting guard averaging 12.4 points per game. “The effort is better on both ends of the court.”
According to Motta, it all starts with Sabo, who, along with running the offense, leads the team with 13 points per game.
“His turnovers are down and the assists are up and that’s huge,” he said. “He’s come up big in big moments and isn’t afraid to make something happen late in games.”
Sabo’s 28 points sparked the Rockets to a 67-56 victory at home over Hickory Feb. 15.
“That win was very important for us,” said senior Shane Thompson, one of the team’s top reserves along with Brady Prementine. “We’ve done something here that hasn’t been done for a long time and we’re playing with all the confidence in the world right now.”
And it’s reflected in the results.
Through it’s first 18 games of the season, the Rockets were unable to win more than two straight games. They enter postseason play on a four-game winning streak by beating Greenville, Hickory, Fort LeBoeuf and Moniteau in an eight-day stretch.
“Defense has been our calling card all season, but it has been very strong lately,” Motta said. “And we’re jelling on offense. The chemistry we have is really paying off for us.”
Vogan leads Slippery Rock with 7.5 rebounds per game while Gordon (46) and Pyle (41) have combined for 87 treys.
To extend its season, No. 7 Slippery Rock must get past a Grove City team (No. 2) that defeated it twice during the regular season by scores of 51-47 and 41-33.
“Grove City is a good team and well-coached,” said Motta. “I’m excited. We said that we wanted to see them in the playoffs. I thought we’d get a bit higher seed, maybe No. 6, but we get a crack at them in the first round.”
“We have to be prepared for whatever they throw at us,” said Gordon. “We need to keep punching back.”
