Slippery Rock girls basketball rolls to big win over Johnsonburg in tip-off tournament

December 06, 2024 Last Updated: December 26, 2024 05:53 PM Sports

Slippery Rock's girls basketball team celebrate a basket during a girls basketball game at the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's Gia Kovacik (12) drives the lane in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's Isabel Drake (11) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) drives the court in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) wins the tip off in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's Belle Miller (21) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich (24) scores on a layup in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich (24) looks for an opening in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) takes a jump shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) looks for an opening to drive the basket in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) takes the ball down court in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Malina McElroy (1) drives the lane in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Avery Maier shoots in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) makes a 3-point shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) takes a foul shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) looks to pass in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) wins the tip off in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Malina McElroy (1) drives to the basket in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler girls basketball coach Mark Maier talks with his team during a timeout in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) looks for a break to pass Mercyhurst Aubrey Easterling (21) in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

Slippery Rock's girls basketball team celebrate a basket during a girls basketball game at the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's Gia Kovacik (12) drives the lane in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's Isabel Drake (11) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) drives the court in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) wins the tip off in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's Belle Miller (21) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich (24) scores on a layup in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich (24) looks for an opening in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) shoots for two in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) takes a jump shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Slippery Rock's CJ Sabo (3) looks for an opening to drive the basket in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) takes the ball down court in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Malina McElroy (1) drives the lane in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Avery Maier shoots in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) makes a 3-point shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) takes a foul shot in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) looks to pass in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Amelia McMichael (32) wins the tip off in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Malina McElroy (1) drives to the basket in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler girls basketball coach Mark Maier talks with his team during a timeout in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
Butler's Cameryn Booher (4) looks for a break to pass Mercyhurst Aubrey Easterling (21) in a girls basketball game during the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Slippery Rock School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — A new season and a new coach bring with them renewed hope for Slippery Rock’s girls basketball team.

Following back-to-back seasons of missing the District 10 playoffs, including last year’s 7-15 record, Jeff Steele took the reins of the Rockets this past offseason and his tenure began Friday in the opening round of the Slippery Rock Tip-Off Tournament against Johnsonburg.

Behind 14 points from both CJ Sabo and Madison Romanovich, the Rockets rolled to a 59-18 victory.

Romanovich, a junior guard, was a starter on last year’s team.

“We kept an open mind with a new coach coming in,” she said. “We learned early on that he was going to push us harder and I think that is a good thing.”

Steele sees no shortage of potential in this year’s group.

“We have three players on this team who probably have playing a sport in college in their future,” Steele said of Sabo, Romanovich and Brielle Jordan. “Whether it’s basketball remains to be seen, but that type of competitiveness is paramount to a high school team.

“Teams often take on the personality of their coach and I’m high-energy and a highly competitive guy.”

Sabo and Romanovich combined to score 16 points in the opening quarter as the Rockets took an early stranglehold on the game.

Isabel Drake added 10 points in the victory.

The first step toward turning the Rockets into a winner had already been taken.

“The players have bought in,” Steele said. “It’s an unselfish group. Our focus is game-to-game. We wanted to go 1-0 today and we’ll show up tomorrow looking to do the same thing.”

The Rockets will face Butler (2-0) in the tournament championship game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

JOHNSONBURG 18

Gia Zimmerman 1 1-4 3, Ally Notarianni 1 0-0 2, Zoey Grunthaner 3 0-0 6, Natalie Dunworth 1 0-0 2, Mya Allegretto 2 0-0 5. Totals: 8 1-4 18

SLIPPERY ROCK 59

CJ Sabo 7 0-0 14, Brielle Jordan 3 0-0 7, Isabel Drake 3 3-3 10, Gia Kovacik 2 0-0 4, Vanessa Hinkle 2 0-2 4, Belle Miller 0 2-4 2, Madison Romanovich 5 2-4 14, Sophia Vinroe 1 0-0 2, Kendra Atwell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 7-13 59

Johnsonburg 8 2 3 5 — 18

Slippery Rock 26 13 12 8 — 59

3-point goals: Johnsonburg 1 (Allegretto); Slippery Rock 4 (Romanovich 2, Jordan, Drake)

Saturday: Butler vs. Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock Tip-Off Championship, 2:30