MOON TWP — Slippery Rock had a plan.

And for five minutes it was going well.

For the first five minutes, the Rockets' girls basketball team was flustering undefeated and WPIAL champion Chartiers Valley, playing physical with the Colts and holding their own in a 6-6 deadlock.

Then things unravelled — quickly.

Chartiers Valley (27-0) began to force turnovers. Slippery Rock (20-5) began to force hurried shots, and by the time the first quarter came to a close, the Colts had an 18-6 advantage.

The Rockets never recovered in a 54-35 loss in the second round of the PIAA 5A playoffs Wednesday night at Moon High School.

“It was what we wanted at first,” said Slippery Rock coach Amber Osborn. “I'm not disappointed in my girls. I know we had an off-shooting night and they had an on-shooting night and we needed it to go the other way. We needed to be on and they needed to be off to get the win.”

A lot of teams this season have fallen victim to Chartiers Valley's penchant for putting up points in bunches while stifling the opponent on the other end.

The Colts did it again against Slippery Rock, holding the Rockets to just 11 points at the half and 15 through three quarters.

Despite the loss, Osborn said she was happy with how her team stood up to the physical Colts.

“I'm not displeased with their effort,” Osborn said. “They were all over the place. They were banging. They didn't walk in intimidated like you see teams play scared.

“Everyone has trouble getting through (Chartiers Valley's) press, but we got through their press just fine,” Osborn added. “But the type of shots we took at the other end seemed rushed, which was uncharacteristic.”

Slippery Rock did cut into the Chartiers Valley lead in the fourth quarter.

Hallie Raabe scored 12 of her game-high 16 points in the final eight minutes as the Rockets outscored the Colts 20-9.

It was far too little, far too late, however.

Maryann Ackerman added 10 points for SR.

Aislyn Malcolm led the Colts with 13 points and Mackenzie Wagner added 12.

It was the final game for Slippery Rock seniors Emma McDermott, Michaella Roth and Destiny Flynn.

McDermott will play next season at Mercyhurst University.

“It is a pretty surreal feeling right now — still trying to process the fact that it's over,” McDermott said. “But I have been so blessed these past four years and I have learned so much through the adversity.”

It was another 20-win season for Slippery Rock, which has played in the District 10 final three straight seasons and won its first state playoff game this year since 2010.

“I've lost championships. I've won championships,” McDermott said. “We finally made it past the first round of the (state) playoffs, and I did it with some of the most amazing girls I've ever known and a coach who never gave up on me.”

Much of the core that has won 40 games in two seasons returns next year, including the trio of sophomores Raabe, Ackerman and point guard Anna Kadlubek.

“I can't wait to see what these girls do their last two years, and I am so thankful to have played with people who I can call some of my best friends,” McDermott said. “This program, my coaches, my team, meant the world to me and it always will.”

SLIPPERY ROCK 35

Maryann Ackerman 4-11 1-10 10, Emma McDermott 0-12 2-2 2, Hallie Raabe 7-14 0-1 16, Bronwyn McCoy 0-0 1-4 1, Anna Kadlubek 2-3 2-2 6, Ella McDermott 0-2 0-0 0, Ashley Shea 0-0 0-0 0, Michaella Roth 0-2 0-0 0, Audrey Kura 0-0 0-0 0, Destiny Flynn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-45 6-19 35.

CHARTIERS VALLEY 54

Megan McConnell 2-6 3-4 7, Mackenzie Wagner 5-10 0-0 12, Alexandria Ferrella 1-1 0-0 3, Aislyn Malcolm 5-8 1-2 13, Gabi Legister 4-7 1-2 9, Perri Page 3-4 1-5 7, Helene Cowen 0-0 1-1 1, Carleea Webb 0-2 0-0 0, Mariah Demus 0-1 0-0 0, Abby Vaites 0-0 0-0 0, Melina Little 0-0 0-0 0, Hallie Cowen 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 21-40 7-14 54.

Slippery Rock 6 5 4 20 — 35

Chartiers Valley18 15 12 9 — 54

3-point goals: Slippery Rock 3 (Ackerman, Raabe 2); Chartiers Valley 5 (Wagner 2, Ferrella, Malcolm 2)