SLIPPERY ROCK - Girls basketball coach Gene Rodgers invited Butler, Hopewell and Mars to play in a fall league with his Slippery Rock High team.

How did the Rockets do?

"We didn't win any games," Rodgers said. "But I didn't expect to."

Wins weren't the goal. The goal was to build depth and develop some younger players to support starting stalwarts Robin Craig and Jence Rhoads, who were playing soccer.

Now that it is winter and Craig and Rhoads are back in full basketball mode, Slippery Rock is looking to take another step forward a season after making a giant leap from 5-18 to 18-6.

"We have a real good nucleus coming back," said Rodgers, who's only off-season loss in the personnel department was center Danielle Hogue. "Danielle was a big loss for us. I think we developed some depth last year because of injury. I really feel good about what we have coming back."

It's hard to feel bad about what Rhoads can do.

Last year as a freshman, she finished second in the county in scoring average with 16.8 points per contest.The point guard has gotten taller, leaner and quicker in the offseason - a scary thought."Jence came along real well last year, and she grew an inch or two since last year," Rodgers said. "The other girls also matured one more year. They're starting to look like they're basketball players. They looked like young girls, now they are looking like young, female basketball players."Craig is going to be a key figure for the Rockets this season as well.The senior guard averaged 11.6 points per game last season and is a dangerous perimeter shooter when she is on."Robin is a very good shooter, and this year, we are hoping she gets more open looks."She may get more opportunities because of the penetrating skills of Rhoads, Abby Basta and Casey McCaffrey.Craig could also go to the basket more this season."She's also developed into a penetrator - something we didn't realize she could do as well as she's been doing."Because of the fall league, Rodgers has some depth to work with. Jessica Fry, who played quite a bit last season as a sophomore, and senior Emily Skoczlas will see significant minutes. Rodgers also has some other girls to go to in a pinch."It's nice when you have a little bit of a bench," said Rodgers, whose team was very thin at times last season because of injury. "We still feel we'll play up-tempo regardless of the people we have on the floor."Last year, the Rockets qualified for the playoffs but were upset in the first round by Warren.Rodgers took over the team late last season, and this year, has had an entire offseason to work with his team."We got started so late last year, our offense, I don't think, ever caught up to our defense," Rodgers said.Slippery Rock averaged 50 points per game in 2004-05 and gave up an average of 40. Rodgers hopes to hold teams down even more this year."That's not a bad stat, but we would like to get that 40 a bit lower," the coach said.The league will be more difficult to navigate this season with Franklin, Oil City, Titusville and Meadville entering the mix.The league schedule also goes from six games to 14."There aren't any nights off," Rodgers said. "Every Monday and Thursday, you better be ready to play."

2004-05 Girls ScheduleDec. 3-4-at Farrell Tip-Off Tournament; Dec. 7-ERIE EAST @ SRU, 6 p.m.; Dec. 9-MERCER, 6 p.m.; Dec. 10-INDIANA, 5 p.m.; Dec. 13-at Sharon, 6 p.m.; Dec. 14-GENERAL MCLANE, 6 p.m.; Dec. 16-at Titusville, 6 p.m.; Dec. 20-at Meadville, 6 p.m.; Dec. 28-29-at Seneca Valley TournamentJan. 4-FRANKLIN @ SRU, 6 p.m.; Jan. 10-at Erie Central, 6 p.m.; Jan. 13-at Hickory, 6 p.m.; Jan. 17-GROVE CITY, 6 p.m.; Jan. 20-TITUSVILLE, 6 p.m.; Jan. 24-MEADVILLE, 6 p.m.; Jan. 27-at Franklin, 6 p.m.; Jan. 28-FRANKLIN, 6 p.m.; Jan. 31-at Oil City, 6:30 p.m.Feb. 2-at Blackhawk, 6:30 p.m.; Feb. 4-at Riverside, 6 p.m.; Feb. 7-HICKORY, 6 p.m.; Feb. 10-at Grove City, 6 p.m.