Slippery Rock boys basketball’s season ends in District 10 loss to Oil City despite Josh Book’s 19 points
-
Slippery Rock senior Josh Book (43) walks off the court after playing his last game in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Slippery Rock guard Casey Darr (10) drives to the paint in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Slippery Rock's Josh Book (43) shoots a layup against Oil City in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
Slippery Rock guard Max Kovacik (2) beats an Oil City defender in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
-
The Oil City Oilers defeated the Slippery Rock Rockets 52-36 in the District 10 Class 4A boys basketball consolation semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House. Eddie Clancy/Special to the Eagle
SLIPPERY ROCK — Through three quarters, Oil City and Slippery Rock were bogged down in a low-scoring battle as both teams fought to extend their season.
The Oilers climbed out of it, but the Rockets never did.
Oil City shot 83% from the field (10 of 12) in the final period, scoring 24 points in that span in a 52-36 defeat of Slippery Rock in a District 10 Class 4A consolation semifinal Tuesday at Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House that ended the Rockets’ season.
Slippery Rock made just three field goals in the fourth quarter while turning the ball over five times. A free throw from Oil City’s Nevin Stinson put the Oilers up 41-31 with 3:15 left.
“We’re at our best when we value each possession and get good looks, but started pressing and got out of character offensively,” Slippery Rock coach AJ Motta said. “It was tough for us to get back into our game plan.”
For the Rockets, that often means getting the ball to 6-foot-5 senior forward Josh Book, who scored a game-high 19 points but was held to six in the second half.
“This was our best defensive effort all season,” Oil City coach Dylin Chapin said.
A number of players sparked Oil City’s late surge. One was junior forward Michael Fink, a reserve who netted all four of his baskets in the final eight minutes.
“He’s started a few games for us, but usually comes in off the bench and gives us energy,” Chapin said. “We started playing at a fast pace, and that’s what we want. Too many times this season we have allowed our opponents to dictate how we play.”
One such instance was a game against Slippery Rock in early December when the Rockets earned a 63-47 victory.
Slippery Rock (13-12) dropped six of its final eight regular season games.
“We struggled not winning games, but I thought we played pretty well during that stretch, went up to Hickory and lost to a really good team by seven points,” Motta said. “Teams were just able to limit Josh just enough, along with some of our other players.”
The Rockets rebounded by defeating Fairview in a district first-round playoff game Feb. 18, the program’s first postseason victory in 21 years. A subsequent loss to Hickory dropped the Rockets to the consolation bracket.
Playing their final game for Slippery Rock were seniors Max Kovacik, Cade Grossman, Braden King, Anderson Franco and Book.
“It was a fantastic class, between production on the court, but also doing the little things,” Motta said. “They helped turn the program around, and that’s the legacy they are leaving behind.”
Stinson led Oil City (16-9) with 13 points, Will McMahon added 12 and Chase Melat 11.
OIL CITY 52
Chase Melat 4 1-1 11, Steven Heise 2 2-2 6, Nevin Stinson 5 3-8 13, Spence Singleton 1 0-0 2, Will McMahon 4 3-4 12, Michael Fink 4 0-1 8, Dalton Dasher 0 0-0 0, Derrick Jones 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 9-16 52.
SLIPPERY ROCK 36
Max Kovacik 1 2-4 5, Anderson Franco 1 5-7 7, Josh Book 8 2-2 19, Casey Darr 1 0-0 2, Doug Senge 1 0-0 2, Doug Popovec 0 1-2 1, Braden King 0 0-0 0, Connor Zorn 0 0-0 0, Fred Campagna 0 0-0 0, Cade Grossman 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 10-15 36.
Oil City 10 8 10 24 — 52
Slippery Rock 12 7 7 10 — 36
3-point goals: Oil City 3 (Melat 2, McMahon); Slippery Rock 2 (Kovacik, Book).
