SR throws Book at Greenville
SLIPPERY ROCK — Nineteen points and 11 rebounds ... very good stats to end a basketball game for any player.
Except for Slippery Rock’s Josh Book, those were not his numbers after the game, just at halftime of Tuesday’s region boys basketball clash at home against Greenville.
The Rockets’ junior power forward finished the night with 32 points and 21 boards as the Rockets easily took down the Trojans, 73-44.
Book turned in a promising sophomore season, averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. He then set his sights on a much more productive junior campaign.
“He came in off the bench last year, did really well in the second half of the season,” said Slippery Rock coach AJ Motta. “He’s having a monster year for us.”
With one regular season game left (Friday at Grove City), Book is averaging 21.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
“I spent a lot of time during the offseason in the weight room and in the gym with the shooting machine,” Book said. “Defensively, they have me playing right underneath the basket, so it’s a great position for rebounds. On offense, my teammates are finding me open and I’m making shots.”
And not just in the paint. Book is also a major threat from 3-point range. He drained five treys in Tuesday’s victory.
“The dude puts in an unreal amount of work and it’s paying off for him,” added Motta.
Book hadn’t scored a point in the early going against Greenville and the Trojans held a slim lead before he netted 12 points in the final four minutes of the first quarter, after which the Rockets held a 20-13 lead. They never trailed again.
“We knew coming into the season that Josh would be featured on offense,” said Motta. “We have guys who can do a lot of things, but he is the main focus on that end.
“He’s not trying to show other people up. He’s just doing his job and he’s done so well for us.”
But what makes the Rockets (14-7, 6-3) dangerous as the District 10 Class 4A playoffs near is that a number of other players are capable of having big games.
Levi Prementine scored 18 in Tuesday’s win and Max Kovacik added 15.
The Rockets’ 14 wins are the most in a single season for the program since the 2007-08 team won 15.
“I’m not a stat guy,” said Book of keeping track of his numbers. “As long as I’m helping the team win, I’m happy.”
GREENVILLE 44
Soren Hedderick 1 0-0 2, Noah Philson 11 0-0 22, Mason Vannoy 4 1-3 11, Noah Cano 1 0-0 2, Ryan Redfoot 1 0-0 2, Richie Powers 1 0-0 3, Brekken Hedderick 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 1-3 44.
SLIPPERY ROCK 73
Levi Prementine 6 3-4 18, Max Kovacik 6 1-3 15, Braden King 2 1-2 5, Anderson Franco 1 0-0 2, Josh Book 12 3-3 32, Casey Darr 0 1-2 1. Totals: 27 9-14 73.
Greenville 13 9 15 7 — 44
Slippery Rock 20 17 22 14 — 73
3-point goals: Greenville 3 (Vannoy 2, Powers); Slippery Rock 10 (Book 5, Prementine 3, Kovacik 2).
Friday: Slippery Rock at Grove City
