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Rockets shoot past Damsels
Rhoads sisters help lead 2nd-half surge
By Derek Pyda
Eagle Staff Writer
SLIPPERY ROCK — Union stayed with Slippery Rock High in the first half.
But the Rockets owned the final two quarters.
Slippery Rock outscored the Damsels 39-22 in the second half to break open a close game as it claimed a 69-50 girls basketball victory Wednesday night.
Rockets sophomore Karly Rhoads was the star of the first half, scoring 17 of her game-high 26 points.
"Karly doesn't have to be the highest scorer for us every night," said Slippery Rock coach Adrienne Orris. "But tonight she recognized that we needed some points out of her."
Despite Karly Rhoads' offensive dominance in the first half, the Rockets held a slim 30-28 lead at intermission.
In the second half, Kourtney Rhoads scored 13 of her 16 points to help Slippery Rock pull away.
The Rockets led 49-39 late in the third quarter when Kourtney Rhoads launched a 3-pointer that just beat the buzzer for a 52-39 edge with eight minutes to play.
The Damsels (6-2) never got closer than nine points after that.
"When you're facing a 5-9 guard who can shoot from the outside like (Kourtney) can, that causes problems for your defense," said Union coach Josh Meeker. "And when she starts feeling it, there's not much you can do."
The most frustrating aspect of his team's defeat for Meeker was when his team had the ball — and lost it.
The Damsels committed 18 turnovers — not an extraordinary amount — but most of them came on errant passes.
The Rockets did execute a press defense for much of the game.
"We have the ability to press, but not always the stamina," said Orris. "But our next game isn't for (eight days), so I wanted to use the press tonight. We don't have to worry about being rested for a while."
"A lot of the turnovers weren't even caused by their press," said Meeker. "I attribute most of it to our lack of experience. It's starting to show."
There were bright spots for Union, as the team shot 16-of-33 for 48 percent from the field in the first three quarters.
The Damsels also had the advantage in rebounds, 34-24.
Junior point guard Courtney Frederick, a first-year starter, led the Damsels with 11 points, including eight in the first quarter, which ended with the score tied at 15.
"I told Courtney the other day in practice that she could end up being one of the best point guards I've coached," said Meeker. "She's matured a lot."
Torri Smith added 10 points for Union.
Orris was pleased with the play of sophomore forward Sarah Cessar, who scored eight points.
"She can score, she can pass and she's our best defender," Orris. "She's just a good, all-around player."
Adele Campbell scored 10 points for the Rockets (5-4).
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