SLIPPERY ROCK — The two schools are a mere eight miles apart.

But on the basketball court these days, they might as well be in different solar systems.

That's how Slippery Rock HighSchool boys basketball coach SeanStrickland looks at the differences between his team and the one in neighboring Grove City.

The third-year Rockets coach saw those discrepancies up close and personal as the Eagles soared to a 64-42 win Tuesday night.

To Strickland, Grove City is the high school basketball standard.

"There's a reason why their only three losses have come against three of the best quad-A teams in the WPIAL," Strickland said. "They have seniors there who are three-year, and four-year senior varsity starters. You know what you are going to get night in and night out from those guys.

"Hopefully we can get this program to that point."

It's hard to argue. Grove City (18-3, 8-0) now has won 24 straight region games and it displayed the patience and fundamentals that have been its trademark over the years.

The Eagles shot nearly 50 percent from the floor, were 14-of-17 from the free throw line, committed only eight turnovers to Slippery Rock's 22 and limited the Rockets to 38 shots.

"We've talked about offensive efficiency," said Grove City coach Don Fee. "We've been preaching that the last three weeks, taking better care of the basketball, pay better attention to details ... all the little things."

Grove City never trailed in the game and led 15-6 midway through the first quarter.

Senior point guard Jordan Fee was cold from the floor in the first eight minutes, but he more than made up for it with crisp passes. He had five assists in the first period.

Ben Liebling was the main beneficiary of the point guard's floor vision, scoring 10 points in the first eight minutes.

Liebling finished with 15 points and Jordan Fee shook off his slow start to finish with 18 points and eight assists.

"He has great court vision," coach Fee said of his point guard and son. "It's hard to talk about your kid, but he sees the floor so well. He knows where guys are supposed to be. There are so many things I don't have to tell our kids because he's on the floor. He tells them what to do."

Slippery Rock (5-16, 1-7) had one glimmer of hope.

The Rockets cut the lead to 10 toward the end of the first half before the Eagles scored the final bucket of the second quarter to go into the half with a 34-22 lead.

Slippery Rock didn't score again until there were three minutes remaining in the third quarter. During that drought, Grove City stretched the lead to 20 points.

The same bugaboos that have haunted the Rockets all season haunted them again.

Turnovers, poor shooting from the floor and the foul line and Rhett Gordon in foul trouble.

Gordon finished with nine points, but he spent large chunks of time on the padded Slippery Rock chairs on the sideline after picking up inopportune fouls.

Brian Kelly, though, shined for Slippery Rock with 14 points. He was 6-of-7 shooting after coming into the game connecting on only 32 percent of his shots and just 20 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

For Grove City, Danny Keil added 12 points and Kyle Perrine had nine.

GROVE CITY 64KeithRundle 1-2 0-0 2, Kent Denbow 0-0 1-2 1, Maxx Stutz 2-6 2-2 6, Ben Liebling 6-8 0-0 15, Danny Keil 5-6 2-2 12, RyanMcNamara 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Fee 7-16 3-3 18, Patrick Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Kyle Perrine 2-6 5-6 9, NickLane 0-0 1-2 1, Derek Forese 0-1 0-0 0, Devon Owens 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 23-47 14-17 64

SLIPPERY ROCK 42Ethan Giesler 0-0 0-0 0, Rhett Gordon 3-7 3-7 9, Kendall Mahan 0-1 0-0 0, Jarod Augostino 1-2 0-0 2, Derrick Orloski 1-4 0-2 2, Vince Papley 0-1 0-0 0, Brian Kelly 6-7 0-0 14, Zack Ejzak 2-9 3-6 7, Matt Shearer 4-7 0-0 8, Ken Ossleborn 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 17-38 6-15 42

Grove City 20 14 12 18—64Slippery Rock 10 12 7 13—423-point goals: Grove City 4 (Liebling 3, Fee); Slippery Rock 2 (Kelly 2)

JV: Grove City 63-37

Friday: Erie McDowell at Grove City; Slippery Rock at Oil City