The key to Slippery Rock girls basketball’s fastest start in 4 years? Shot clocks
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Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Jeff Steele coaches his team during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Jeff Steele coaches his team during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Jeff Steele coaches his team during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock girls basketball coach Jeff Steele coaches his team during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Belle Miller practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich practices blocking during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Belle Miller practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Belle Miller practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Belle Miller practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich practices shooting during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich, right, practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Isabel Drake practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Madison Romanovich, right, practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan practices drills during a girls basketball practice at Slippery Rock Area High School on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — Shortly after being hired as Slippery Rock girls basketball coach in September, Jeff Steele made a purchase that has helped to redefine who the Rockets are.
“I bought two shot clocks and set them at 14 seconds during practice,” he said. “A shot clock forces you to make quicker decisions.”
No, shot clocks are not part of official high school basketball games in Pennsylvania. But they have been pivotal in the Rockets (8-3) already surpassing their win total from a year ago, when they finished 7-15.
Steele preaches a fast-paced game, much different from what Slippery Rock’s players were used to.
“We never pressed on defense last year ... never,” junior Madison Romanovich said. “It’s a much faster game now, and we’re getting a lot more shots off.”
Steele did have concerns about how his players would react.
“I had confidence in the girls’ ability, knew what they each could provide, but my fear was that they would be timid and scared in this system,” he said. “They’ve bought in, though.”
Practices are frenetic, keeping the players prepared for their responsibilities in games. Executing at such a pace inevitably leads to mistakes, but the idea is for the Rockets to force more than they commit, and so far, over 11 steals per game are helping Slippery Rock win that battle.
Wrinkles still need to be ironed out, but the potential is clear. The Rockets have scored at least 60 points in four games this season after averaging just 35.7 a year ago.
“It definitely took a couple of games to get used to. There were a lot of early mishaps,” sophomore Brielle Jordan said. “But I love the way we’re playing. I’m a wing on the soccer team and take a lot of pride in my speed.”
Senior Belle Miller, a forward, is the only starter with a set position. Romanovich, CJ Sabo, Isabel Drake and Jordan can each play guard and forward.
Sabo and Romanovich lead the team in scoring with a healthy 17.1 and 15 points, respectively, per game. Romanovich is averaging 9.8 rebounds and Miller 6.4.
Jordan does a little of everything with 7.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. She and Romanovich are leaders on defense, but every player on the floor has fit into the scheme and added to opponents’ frustrations.
“We go halfcourt (man-to-man) when we have to be,” Steele said. “But pressing, playing in transition leads to more possessions, and when we’re playing well, we’re averaging between 70 and 80 possessions per game. Our goal is to rebound half of our misses.”
The team’s top reserves include Isabella Vukson, Ryleigh Cornelius, Gia Kovacik and Vanessa Hinkle.
Slippery Rock’s switch in strategy has led to more success on the court. The Rockets are eyeing a return to the District 10 playoffs after a two-year absence.
“It’s a different attitude this year,” Romanovich said. “I play AAU basketball with Brielle and CJ. We have a strong bond and it continues to grow with the high school team.”
“I think a lot of people up in Erie are overlooking us,” Jordan said. “A lot of different teams beat us last year, and we’re on a revenge tour.”
