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Slippery Rock drops 49-48 decision to rival Grove City

SLIPPERY ROCK — One point. Specifically a free throw with 4.6 seconds left. That was the difference in Slippery Rock’s 49-48 boys basketball loss to visiting Grove City on Tuesday.

Slippery Rock's Levi Prementine goes for a layup during their game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

“I’m not frustrated with our players,” said Slippery Rock coach AJ Motta. “I’m frustrated to see the game end like it did, knowing how hard our guys worked and how hard they prepared. I’m proud of how they played tonight.”

Slippery Rock's Levi Prementine goes for a layup during their game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

The Rockets (11-6, 3-2) led 45-43 before Grove City’s Brett Loughry drained a 3-pointer and hit a pair of free throws in the span of 21 seconds, giving the Eagles a 48-45 edge with 1:33 remaining in the game.

Slippery Rock's Max Kovacik runs the ball down the court during their game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

SR’s Levi Prementine, who led all scorers with 18 points, completed a 3-point play to tie the game with 1:12 left. The Eagles then took more than a minute off the clock before they made their move, which resulted in Nathan Greer at the line. The junior guard missed the first attempt and made the second.

Slippery Rock's Josh Book passes the ball during their game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

The Rockets got the ball across midcourt, but could muster only Prementine’s off-balance attempt from beyond the arc that was well short of the basket.

Slippery Rock's Anderson Franco attempts to score during the game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

It was a seventh straight victory for Grove City (10-7, 5-0), the defending District 10 champions in Class 4A.

Slippery Rock's Anderson Franco is blocked from scoring by Grove City's Nathan Greer during their game at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

“Slippery Rock is a really good team and we knew it would be tough coming in here,” said Grove City coach Chris Kwolek. “Defense is the biggest reason for our success and it come up big tonight.”

Slippery Rock's Braden King battles Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

Motta pointed to the end of both halves as the difference in the game.

Slippery Rock's Josh Book protects the ball from Grove City during their game at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

“We had a 10-point lead late in the first half, then turned the ball over a number of times (leading to six points for Grove City),” he said. “There’s a big difference between a 10-point lead and a four-point lead at halftime.

Slippery Rock's Levi Prementine is blocked from scoring by Grove City's Nathan Greer during their game at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

“Then at the end of the game, Greer hitting that free throw was big for him, big for Grove City. It’s just a tough way to lose.”

Slippery Rock's Levi Prementine and Grove City's Nathan Greer battle for the ball during their game at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

Prementine had a great individual effort to put the Rockets up 40-38 after three quarters. First, he blocked a 3-point attempt from Loughry at the top of the key, retrieved the loose ball and dribbled just inside the midcourt line before letting a shot go just before the buzzer.

Slippery Rock's Josh Book passes the ball during the game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

Swish.

Slippery Rock's Anderson Franco drives the ball down the court during their game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

“Every game, he makes a play that only Levi Prementine can make,” said Motta. “He’s a super athlete.”

Slippery Rock's Josh Book tries to get past Grove City's Jimmy Irani and make it to the basket during their game at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

The Rockets made four of five 3-point attempts in the second period, including two from Max Kovacik, to build a 32-22 advantage.

Slippery Rock's Braden King puts up a shot in the game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)
Slippery Rock's Levi Prementine drives toward the basket during the game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

Loughry led the Eagles with 17 points and Greer scored 16.

For Slippery Rock, Josh Book netted 13 points.

The Rockets and Eagles meet again Feb. 16 at Grove City.

Slippery Rock's Anderson Franco looks to pass the ball during the first quarter of the game against Grove City at Slippery Rock High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (1/30/2024)

GROVE CITY 49

Jimmy Irani 2 0-0 4, Nathan Greer 7 2-3 16, Paul Grubba 2 0-0 4, Gavin Lutz 2 0-0 5, Brett Loughry 5 4-4 17, Christian Kurz 1 0-0 3, Kamden Martin 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 6-7 49.

SLIPPERY ROCK 48

Levi Prementine 7 2-3 18, Max Kovacik 3 0-0 9, Anderson Franco 2 0-0 5, Josh Book 4 4-4 13, Braden King 1 0-0 3, Doug Popovec 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-7 48.

Grove City 14 14 10 11 — 49

Slippery Rock 14 18 8 8 — 48

3-point goals: Grove City 5 (Loughry 3, Lutz, Kurz); Slippery Rock 8 (Kovacik 3, Prementine 2, Franco, Book, King).

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