SLIPPERY ROCK — John Tabisz wiped his brow with the back of his hand and sighed.

“We survived,” said the Slippery Rock High girls basketball coach. “That’s all we did was survive.”

Surviving was enough for the Rockets against rival Grove City Monday night. It was by no means a sparkling display of basketball, but Tabisz and his team will gladly take the 36-31 home win.

“We had to fight from behind for it,” said Tabisz, whose team trailed until freshman forward Sedona Campbell hit a layup 30 seconds into the fourth quarter for Slippery Rock’s first lead. It never trailed again. “We did not play really well.”

Until the end, that is.

After struggling for three quarters against a staunch, physical and quick Grove City defense, the Rockets were 4-for-4 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the free throw line in the final quarter to pull out the victory.

Sophomore guard Marissa Siebka, who sat most of the first half on the bench with three early fouls, scored four of her six points in the final quarter. Riley McGonigle scored six of her eight points — including four huge free throws in the final 31 seconds — in the final quarter.

“The kids dug through,” Tabisz said.

McGonigle was poised again down the stretch, much like she was in the first meeting between these two rivals in January when she made a clutch defensive play at the end to preserve a one-point Slippery Rock win.

“It’s always nice to help out your team,” said the senior guard.

It was a freshman guard who kept Slippery Rock close early when it looked as if Grove City would pull away.

Jenna Whitmer scored six first-half points as the Rockets headed into halftime down 21-16. Grove City had led 19-10 at one point with possession and a chance to stretch the lead to double digits.

But Whitmer, subbing for Siebka, played nothing like a freshman.

“I’m really proud of our freshmen,” McGonigle said. “Coming into a game like this, nerves are through the roof. They’re not really freshmen anymore.”

Grove City had an opportunity late to tie the game. Brenna Deyarmin, who led Grove City with 14 points, had two good looks from the corner, but rimmed out both 3-point attempts.

“She’s been a very steady shooter for us and that’s who I wanted to shoot the ball in the end,” said Grove City coach T.L. Eller. “It just came down to their role players made a few more shots down the stretch. We had good shots; they just didn’t fall.”

Eller was concerned about how her team, playing its fourth consecutive road game, would come out against Slippery Rock.

“I was really worried coming in what this would look like,” Eller said. “In my opinion, Slippery Rock has just gotten better and better all season long. They are very well coached. So we were concerned. I thought our kids stepped up and rose to the occasion.”

The win all-but cemented Slippery Rock in second place in Region 5-AAA. The Rockets (13-4, 7-2) still have region games against Franklin, Titusville and Meadville in the next five days.

The loss puts Grove City (12-9, 6-5) on the bubble as the fourth-place team in the region with a home game against Hickory Thursday to close out its schedule.

“I hope we can sneak into the playoffs,” Eller said. “I think we are a playoff-caliber team.”

Slippery Rock may have proven it can win without its two leading scorers having big games.

Siebka scored just six points and leading scorer Nicole Papley had just two.

“It’s a very good sign because someone else had to step up,” Tabisz said. “And did.”

GROVE CITY 31

Hailey Hall 1-4 0-2 2, Danyelle Lucido 0-1 0-0 0, Alexis Deyarmin 0-0 0-0 0, Brenna Deyarmin 4-14 6-6 14, Catie Jaskowak 0-1 0-0 0, Jordyn Wyllie 1-1 0-0 2, Jenn Ferguson 3-7 1-4 7, Arianna Sprando 1-4 1-2 3, Corianne Hyduchak 0-4 3-4 3. Totals: 10-35 11-16 31.

SLIPPERY ROCK 36

Riley McGonigle 2-5 4-4 8, Nicole Papley 1-5 0-2 2, Lauren Dietz 1-2 2-2 4, Marissa Siebka 2-8 2-3 6, Sadona Campbell 3-5 0-0 6, Jenna Whitmer 3-6 2-2 8, Alicia Bertozzi 1-2 0-1 2, Bailey Boyd 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-33 10-14 36.

Grove City 14 7 4 6 — 31

Slippery Rock8 8 8 12 — 36

3-point goals: None

JV: Grove City 47-45 (2-OT)

Wednesday: Franklin at Slippery Rock

Thursday: Hickory at Grove City