Rockets girls lean on experienced youth
SLIPPERY ROCK — Call them Generation SR.
They're all Slippery Rock children of the '90s.
None were born in the '80s. They've never known a world without the Internet, without cell phones. Tell themDavid Letterman used to be on NBC and the Pirates used to be good and they look at you with blank stares.
Yes, the Slippery Rock High girls basketball is very young, with 10 sophomores and one freshman on the varsity roster — and no juniors or seniors. However, they are experienced, as three starters return from last season and another played significant minutes.
There is no clear-cut team leader, yet the group has played together for eight seasons.
"I hate to say this without knowing for sure, but we may be the only team in Pennsylvania without a junior or a senior on the team," said Slippery Rock coach Adrienne Orris. "That's very odd. But it's good. These girls want to beat girls who are older than them. That drives them."
Last year, led by Jence Rhoads, who is now in the starting lineup for nationally ranked Vanderbilt University, Slippery Rock made it all the way to the PIAA Class AA Western Final.
But around Rhoads in that starting lineup were three freshman.
Orris will put a starting lineup of five sophomores on the floor this season.
The scoring spark will come from Karly and Kourtney Rhoads, who combined to average 17.3 points per game last season.
Ali Doyle will take over the point guard duties, Sarah Cessar, who pitched in 6.4 points and a load of rebounds, and Adele Campbell will play the post.
The Rockets are full of unknowns; they could be very good or the youth could cause a few loses.
Orris has goals. What they are, she isn't saying.
"They are secret," Orris said. "They are in our locker room — total secrets. Obviously, the girls got a little taste of something special last season. Our goals are three-year goals. We're looking at this season as we have nothing to lose."
Sean Strickland has been waiting four years for this: Ethan Geisler is the man at the point.Strickland saw the junior play in eighth grade and began the countdown to when he was ready to take over the offense at point guard for the Rockets.With no true point guard in the system, Strickland had to put Zack Ejzak there last season. Playing out of position, Ejzak didn't score up to his potential."Ethan Geisler is no question the most improved player on our team," Strickland said. "He has worked non-stop this summer on his game. Now we can move Zack into a position where he is more of a scorer."Strickland hopes the trickledown effect of the move is felt throughout the program.Particularly with Ejzak.The senior scored 14.3 points per game last season. Strickland believes he can score much more this season.Seniors MattShearer (10 ppg) and Brian Kelly (7.7 ppg) also return and figure to improve their scoring averages from a season ago with Geisler feeding them passes."As good as Zack is — and I thinkZack is going to be one of the best players, not only in the region, but in the district — I really do believe Ethan is going to be the heart of our team. He's going to have to be the guy to keep everything together, because he's going to have the scoring around him. He just has to make sure he takes care of the basketball and controls the game."Last season, Slippery Rock started the season 5-7 and was 1-1 in the region before losing 10 of the final 11 games to end the season.A slow start could be devastating to the Rockets. And withEjzak still getting back into basketball shape after a successful football season and two region games in early December, Strickland is bracing for a bumpy start."Zack is going to get off to a slow start," Strickland said. "I just hope that doesn't cost us a chance at achieving something."
