Slippery Rock basketball, led by Josh Book’s double-double, routs Moniteau in holiday tourney
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Slippery Rock’s Josh Book dunks against Moniteau in a boys basketball game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau’s Weston Cook shoots a 3-pointer in a boys basketball game Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Slippery Rock defeated Moniteau 59-34 in a boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Slippery Rock High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Trying to handle Josh Book is hard enough. Throw in a supporting cast, and it’s nearly impossible.
Slippery Rock’s 6-foot-5 senior tallied 24 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals Friday night as the Rockets rolled to a 59-34 boys basketball win over Moniteau in SR’s holiday tournament.
“Josh is going to get his, but when teams try to overload on him, we have other guys who can pick up the slack,” Rockets coach AJ Motta said. “I have faith in all five of our guys on the floor. That’s the way we’re built.”
The Rockets (5-2) jumped out to an 18-5 lead in the first eight minutes, led 41-15 at halftime and got the mercy clock running on a Max Kovacik 3-pointer with 2:45 left in the third quarter. That gave Slippery Rock a 49-19 lead, its largest of the night.
Braden King had 10 points and five steals for Slippery Rock while Doug Popovec contributed nine points; Anderson Franco added six points, four steals and four rebounds.
The Rockets had only eight turnovers all night, Moniteau (2-7) had 18 in dropping its fifth straight.
“We knew this would be a formidable challenge coming in here,” Moniteau coach Mike Jewart said. “Josh Book is one heckuva basketball player, and they have a seasoned team out there with him.”
Book is headed to Grove City College next year.
“I need to work on my ball handling a lot more,” Book said in assessing his skill set. “I want to be able to take on a guard role when I have to.”
Motta said Book was “much more perimeter-oriented last season. This season, he’s been dominant inside. That’s the biggest change in his game. He keeps getting better. He practices on his own and lifts up his teammates. He’s a great kid and a great basketball player.
“It’s a lot of fun just being around him.”
The Rockets scored only 18 points in the second half. Book wasn’t crazy about that number.
“Even if the score is out of hand, we have to continue to work and execute our game,” he said. “That’s important in preparing for the next game and improving as a team. I love the group we have this year and I’m excited about what we are capable of doing.”
Moniteau has one senior — Connor Ealy — on its roster. He is sidelined with a sprained ankle. Brendin Sankey paced the Warriors on Friday with 10 points and eight rebounds. Weston Cook came off the bench to tally seven points and three boards.
“This is one of those years where we’ll be taking two steps forward, three steps back,” Jewart said. “We’re just so young. Our goal is to be playing at the level we need to play at by the end of the season. We’re not there yet.
“We have a lot of work to do.”
A furious Yellowjacket rally fell short as Gavin Tola sank a free throw to pull Freeport within a point with nine seconds left. Tola missed his second free throw, but Freeport wound up with the ball.
A desperate shot at the buzzer misfired and Cranberry (6-2) held on. The Berries led by as many as 15 points in the first half and took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Cole Findlay led Cranberry with 23 points. Blake Marchinke added 21, Landon Baker 15 and Connor Morrow 14. Carson Kane paced the Yellowjackets (1-6) with 23 points.
Dempsey Cowan scored 14, Danny King 12 and Michael Graczyk 10 for Freeport.
MONITEAU 34
Isaac Book 2-12 2-4 7, Ian Ross 1-8 0-0 3, Brendin Sankey 5-6 0-0 10, Blaine Jamison 2-4 0-0 4, Braden Beachem 0-3 0-0 0, Weston Cook 2-6 2-4 7, Carson Minnear 0-1 0-0 0, Brennan Kelly 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 13-43 4-8 34.
SLIPPERY ROCK 59
Doug Popovec 3-9 2-2 9, Braden King 5-6 0-0 10, Fred Campagna 1-1 1-2 3, Anderson Franco 2-6 1-2 6, Josh Book 9-15 5-9 24, Max Kovacik 2-7 0-0 5, Sawyer Allen 0-2 0-0 0, Connor Zorn 0-1 0-0 0, Casey Darr 0-1 0-0 0, Cade Grossman 0-0 0-0, Doug Senge 1-1 0-0 2, Andrew Harry 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-50 9-15 59.
Moniteau 5 10 10 9 — 34
Slippery Rock 18 23 8 10 — 59
3-point goals: Moniteau 4 (Book, Ross, Cook, Kelly), Slippery Rock 4 (Popovec, Franco, Book, Kovacik)
Saturday at Slippery Rock: Freeport vs. Moniteau, 1 p.m.; Cranberry vs. Slippery Rock, 2:30 p.m.
