SLIPPERY ROCK — The mercy clock began ticking after the first basket of the fourth quarter and the Rockets cruised to a 35-point win.

So why wasn't Slippery Rock High boys basketball coach SeanStrickland happy after a 75-40 home thumping of Jamestown Friday night?

Because, despite the rout, the Rockets struggled at times — not what Strickland wanted to see with the region schedule set to resume at the end of next week.

"The last two days of practice were not very good," Strickland said. "And I thought we played inconsistently because of the last two days of practice."

Slippery Rock (6-4) was very good in spurts.

The Rockets went on a 20-0 run to turn a tenuous seven-point lead into a 41-14 laugher.

Zack Ejzak scored nine of his game-high 22 points during that run.

Slippery Rock also unveiled several variations of a press defense that helped the Rockets force 35 turnovers. For most of the game, the Muskies (1-7) had more mistakes than points.

"The good thing is we still have three more solid sessions of practices before we play our next game," Strickland said. "After that, it is eight games in 17 days. We're either going to be ready or not."

SlipperyRock better be ready; the region schedule is a grueling one.

But the region race also is wide open. Each team inRegion 6 has played at least two games. Only one game has been decided by more than five points.

"We've approached this year from the start that the region games are all that matter," Strickland said. "Region is going to a flat-out war — the survival of the fittest."

EthanGeisler added 12 points and Derrick Orloski pitched in 11 for the Rockets.

JAMESTOWN 40Spencer Snyder 1-6 2-6 5, Shawn Brown 3-7 3-4 7, Josh McKnight 0-1 2-3 2, Brad Seman 1-2 0-0 2, Paul Ochs 2-6 0-2 4, Alex Thurber 0-1 0-0 0, Steve Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Tom Shannon 4-9 1-2 11, Ryan Avril 0-3 0-2 0, Justin Wells 2-9 1-1 5.

Totals: 13-45 9-20 40

SLIPPERY ROCK 75Zack Ejzak 9-18 2-2 22, Ethan Geisler 4-10 4-5 12, Matt Shearer 4-9 1-2 9, Derrick Orloski 4-7 3-4 11, Brian Kelly 3-10 0-0 7, Brian Giesler 1-4 0-0 2, Nick Cress 0-0 0-0 0, Alec McDeavitt 2-3 0-1 4, Brent Ayers 1-1 0-0 2, Ryan Gordon 0-0 0-0 0, Steve Drake 0-0 2-2 2, Andrew Waryanka 0-0 3-4 3, Justin Bennett 0-0 1-2 1.

Totals: 28-62 16-22 75

Jamestown 6 8 9 17—40Slippery Rock 15 21 25 14—753-point goals: Snyder, Shannon 3, S. Brown; Ejzak 2, Kelly

Thursday: Slippery Rock at Ft. LeBoeuf