Sports Journalism Feature 12/07/2018 by SRU Rocket

SRU

Rock Basketball Special FeaTure

December 7, 2018

Page 2

Last man standing Till leads The Rock after offseason roster turnover By Oscar Matous Copy Editor

There is only one player on the Slippery Rock University men’s basketball team this year that was on the roster last season. Micah Till, a six-foot-seven, 260 pounds, redshirt junior, currently leads The Rock with 140 points on the young season. His 37 percent three-point field goal percentage is good for third on the team behind redshirt senior Vinny Lasley (46%) and junior Jared Armstrong (50%). Despite being a forward, Till said he does consider himself a perimeter shooting threat to other teams. “I have had some off shooting days,” Till said. “During the offseason, I worked on my three-point shot and it has helped my game because now teams have to worry about me not just inside the paint, but outside of it as well.” Till said one of the biggest changes he has noticed in himself this season, in comparison to last season, is that he is in better shape this year. “Not saying I don’t get tired out on the court,” Till said. “But when I do, I can ‘kick that second gear’ in a lot faster than I could last year. I just feel a lot better as far as my heart rate goes.” Till’s journey to The Rock is a unique one. He was born in Japan and lived in Italy for five years before moving to the United States with his family. Till said his father worked for the U.S. Air Force, which forced their family to move around every few years. Growing up, Till said he was always involved in sports. “Soccer was actually the first sport I participated in,” Till explained. “I started up basketball shortly after in the same year and then I began to play baseball before picking up football in seventh grade.

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Micah Till dunks over a defender from District of Columbia Univeristy. Till led The Rock in scoring in 2017-18 with 21 points per game.

Pretty much anything that wasn’t on skates, or like tennis and golf, I played.” He attended Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and graduated in 2014. Following graduation, Till initially committed to North Carolina State University to pursue football. Till redshirted during the 2014 season but was ultimately dismissed

from the team just weeks into the start of the 2015 season. The reasoning behind the dismissal was not publicly made known by N.C. State and Till declined to comment on the matter, according to an article published by The Pittsburgh PostGazette. “Things just didn’t work out at N.C. State,” Till said. “I started looking at

other colleges to play football at but then realized I didn’t want to play football anymore so I went to junior college to try and get back on the radar for basketball.” Till enrolled in Harford Community College and helped lead the Fighting Owls to a 24-8 record as well as a Region 20 championship, according to Rock Athletics. Till was then reached out to by then Rock assistant coach Ian Grady, who also served as the recruiting coordinator for the team. Grady, who is now the team’s acting head coach, informed Till that their offense would be “run through him,” if he came to SRU, Till said. “Grady told me that they were going to put the ball in my hands,” Till said confidently. “They told me they were going to give me the opportunity to score and win games through me and I liked that plan.” Till arrived to The Rock for the 20172018 season and helped lead the team to an overall record of 21-9 and 14-8 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). He was the league’s third leading scorer with 640 points, averaging 21.3 per game while also averaging 30.6 minutes played per game. So far on the young season, The Rock is currently seventh in the PSAC with an overall record of 2-4. Although frustrated so far, Till remains optimistic for the future of the team. “Given the circumstances this year, I’d give our team a C+, maybe a ‘B-,” Till said. “We were so close in a lot of those games, that we could have won them. It hurts that we couldn’t come out with the win in those games but because we were so close, it helps me see that this team has nothing but good things coming up.”

Rock men battle early season adversity By Jessica Damico Reporter

Slippery Rock Men’s Basketball is nearing the start of their conference schedule this season, with high expectations looming for this year’s team. After Head Coach Kevin Reynolds was placed on administrative leave on Nov. 2, assistant coach Ian Grady has taken over the duty of acting head coach. Grady has been the assistant coach since the 201112 season and has spent his entire ten year coaching career at Slippery Rock. Under Grady’s tutelage, the team enters conference play with a record of 2-4. After losing to Gannon University during the second round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament, The Rock finished last season with a record of 21-9. The Rock is led by Division II preseason All- American Micah Till. A product of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Till averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game last season as a redshirt sophomore. He was the only player in the country to score at least 600 points and grab 350 rebounds during the regular season. He finished the season scoring 640 points and set a single-season record of 361 rebounds. Redshirt senior Vinny Lasley returns to the team after sitting out the previous season with a torn meniscus. During the 2016-17 season, he scored 132 points and pulled down 145 boards. Lasley and Till are the only players on the team to have previously donned the green and white before this season. The Rock added ten transfer players headlined by Seniors Nolen Gerald (Augustana University), Julius Palmer (Oakland), Donovan Walker (Louisiana- Monroe), John Warren II (Augustana University), Marice Wright (Alabama State). They are joined by juniors Jared Armstrong (Butler County Community College, Kansas), Nick Barney (Community Colloge of Beaver County), Zay Craft (Clarion), Ray Hinton (Garrett College) and sophomore Andre Seadey (Northern Virginia). For the first time since the 2012-2013 season, The Rock also welcomed four freshmen. Nik Cazacu, Jason Fowlkes, Amante Britt and Will Bounds will all suit up for The Rock this season. Rebounding is a key element that Slippery Rock focuses on. Last season, The Rock lead all of

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Senior guard Nolen Gerald converts on a layup against District of Columbia Univeristy. Gerald is one of ten transfer players to join The Rock this season.

Division II basketball in offensive rebounds at 17.0 per game. Preseason rankings have The Rock in second place in the PSAC West behind rival, Indiana

University of Pennsylvania (IUP), followed by Gannon, Mercyhurst and California (PA). With a tough schedule, The Rock look to improve on their record from a season ago.

December 7, 2018

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2019 MENS ROSTER ANDRE SEADEY

RAY HINTON #1 JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’1 / 200LB JOHNSTON, PA

#2 REDSHIRT JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’1 / 170LB CENTERVILLE, VA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: MUHAMMAD ALI

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

PLAYMAKER STUDENT ATHLETE

PERIMETER DEFENDER STUDENT ATHLETE

DONOVAN WALKER

JOHN WARREN II

#3 SENIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’0 / 175LB BURTONSVILLE, MD

#4 SENIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’6 / 180LB HOPKINS, MN

FAVORITE ATHLETE: ALLEN IVERSON

FAVORITE ATHLETE: MICHAEL VICK

ATHLETIC SCORER STUDENT ATHLETE

SHARPSHOOTER STUDENT ATHLETE

NOLEN GERALD

JARED ARMSTRONG

#5 SENIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’3 / 185LB JAMESTOWN, NC

#10 JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 5’10 / 185LB PHILADELPHIA, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

FAVORITE ATHLETE: JOHN SALMONS

PLAYMAKING WING DEFENDER STUDENT ATHLETE

ELITE SCORER STUDENT ATHLETE

MICAH TILL

NIK CAZACU

#11 REDSHIRT JUNIOR POSITION: FORWARD 6’7 / 260LB UPPER MARLBORO, MD

#12 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 6’4 / 200LB ATHENS, GREECE

FAVORITE ATHLETE: MYSELF

FAVORITE ATHLETE: GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

THREE & D SPECIALIST

ALL AROUND SUPERSTAR STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

JASON FOWLKES

NICK BARNEY

#14 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 6’3 / 200LB STRABANE, PA

#20 JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’2 / 205LB MIDLAND, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: ODELL BECKHAM

FAVORITE ATHLETE: ALLEN IVERSON

ATHLETIC FINISHER

SHARPSHOOTER STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

MARICE WRIGHT

VINNY LASLEY

#21 SENIOR POSITION: CENTER 6’11 / 215LB CLARKSVILLE, TN

#23 REDSHIRT SENIOR POSITION: FORWARD 6’6 / 210LB TAMA, IA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: BLAKE GRIFFIN

FAVORITE ATHLETE: KOBE BRYANT

JACK OF ALL TRADES

RIM PROTECTOR STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

WILL BOUNDS

AMANTE BRITT

#24 FRESHMEN POSITION: FORWARD 6’7 / 210LB GAINESVILLE, VA

#25 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 5’9 / 180LB WILKINSBURG, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

FLOOR GENERAL

TENACIOUS REBOUNDER STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

JULIUS PALMER

ZAY CRAFT #33 JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 6’3 / 195LB MIDLAND, PA

#44 SENIOR POSITION: CENTER 6’10 / 215LB DETROIT, MI

FAVORITE ATHLETE: KYRIE IRVING

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

PERIMETER DEFENDER STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

ALLEY OOP SPECIALIST

December 7, 2018

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December 7, 2018

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THE BEST OF THE WEST GANNON UNIVERSITY (ERIE PA)

WOMENS SCHEDULE

W (5-4) M (3-4)

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY (ERIE PA) W (1-6) M (5-1)

EDINBORO UNIVERSITY (EDINBORO PA) W (3-2) M (3-3)

W (3-4) M (2-5)

NOV. 10 *JOHNSON C. SMITH . . . 71 71--60

NOV. 9 *NOTRE DAME . . . . . 75-77

NOV. 11 *ELIZABETH CITY . . . . . . 79-80

NOV. 10 *FAIRMONT ST. . . . 79-82

NOV. 18 BOWIE STATE . . . . . . . . . . . . 53-71

NOV. 14 CARLOW . . . . . . . . . 108-70

NOV. 21 WALSH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73-93 NOV. 24 *WAYNE STATE . . . . . . . . 6565-63 NOV. 25 *ASHLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62-118

SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY (SLIPPERY ROCK PA) CLARION UNIVERSITY (CLARION PA) W (5-3) M (1-4)

INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PA (INDIANA PA) W (7-0) M (8-0)

PITT JOHNSTOWN (JOHNSTOWN PA) W (4-3) M (5-3)

SETON HILL UNIVERSITY (GREENSBURG PA) W (3-2) M (1-5)

MENS SCHEDULE

NOV. 17 UNIVERSITY OF DC . . 59-64 NOV. 24 @DAEMEN . . . . . . . . . . . 71-78

NOV. 27 OHIO EASTERN . . . . . . 115-75

DEC. 3 @ EAST STROUDSBURG . . . . 7575-68

DEC. 3 @EAST STROUDSBURG . . 66-82

DEC. 8 WEST CHESTER

DEC. 17 @SALEM

DEC. 15 @SALEM

DEC. 18 LOCK HAVEN

DEC. 19 BLOOMSBURG

JAN. 2 SETON HILL

JAN. 5 @MERCYHURST

JAN. 9 @CALIFORNIA PA

JAN. 12 INDIANA PA

JAN. 16 CLARION

JAN. 19 @MANSFIELD

JAN. 23 PITT JOHNSTOWN

JAN. 26 @EDINBORO

JAN. 30 @GANNON

FEB. 2 CALIFORNIA PA

FEB. 6 @INDIANA PA

FEB. 9 @SETON HILL

FEB. 13 MERCYHURST

FEB. 16 @CLARION

FEB. 20 EDINBORO

FEB. 23 @PITT JOHNSTOWN

MAR. 2 GANNON

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PA (CALIFORNIA PA) W (7-0) M (1-5)

WOMEN'S TWITTER: @SRUWBB

MEN'S TWITTER: @SRUHOOPS

* INDICATES THAT THE CONTEST WAS PLAYED AT A NEUTRAL LOCATION

December 7, 2018

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Senior class shoulders big expectations By Karl Ludwig Reporter

While the men’s team experiences massive upheaval each season – especially this season with only All-American forward Micah Till returning to the team – the suspension of their coach exacerbates the confusion to record highs. The Slippery Rock women’s basketball team, however, under the tutelage of coach Bobby McGraw, has experienced record turnaround to reach a level of stability unseen in the last decade. In the five seasons before McGraw’s hire in 2014, The Rock won just 25 games in 131 tries. The Green and White won no more than six games a season during the rough patch and reached only three wins in 2010-2011 and four wins in 2012-2013. McGraw feels as though his two seniors, forward Morgan Henderson and guard Ciara Patterson, have been the catalysts to the transformation over the past four seasons and that their experience on the court will pay dividends this season in their quest for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title. “What’s great about having them here, besides how talented they are, they’ve been here for some of the big wins,” said McGraw. “They’ve been here when we’ve beaten West Liberty back to back years. They’ve been here for when we’ve beaten Edinboro and all that cool stuff.” Henderson and Patterson both play their home games on the same court at Morrow Field House now, but their respective paths to reach their senior seasons at The Rock differ vastly. While Henderson was leading Seton La Salle high school to multiple Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League titles and a PIAA state championship in 2014, Patterson was contributing 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in limited minutes at Division I program Wright State University. Henderson, a three-year letterwoman in basketball and volleyball at Seton Le Salle high, has played in every game for the Green and White in her first three seasons and became a starter during her sophomore season. The early childhood/special education major has improved upon her stats every season in her career, putting up 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while leading the team in field goal percentage at 48.8% last season. Slowly climbing the leaderboards in career offensive rebounds and blocks, Henderson

still finds it hard to believe that she is living out a childhood dream. “It’s honestly amazing,” Henderson stated. “My goal starting out when I was super little was to play at the college level and be honored with all of that. It just pushes me this year to get even better.” Henderson said her coaches and teammates have created an atmosphere that has allowed her to excel in each of her previous three seasons for SRU. Ranking 12th in career blocks and 13th in offensive rebounds, Henderson should break into the top ten this season. Whereas Henderson has known nothing but Rock basketball over her college career, Patterson spent a year with the Raiders before an unlikely source facilitated her move to The Rock. “Ciara’s grandmother is a retired Pennsylvania state trooper. I know her grandmother and I used to be a state trooper, too. Ciara’s last coach at Wright State, when he took the New Mexico job after she had got her release, her grandmother gave me a call and said, ‘would you be interested in Ciara transferring?’ I said, ‘how about tonight?’” McGraw explained. Now that Patterson, originally a fourstar prospect out of West Mifflin, has played a few seasons for The Rock – and excelled in all facets of the game – the senior communication major said the laid-back atmosphere at SRU has allowed her to play her best basketball. “The atmosphere and the culture at Wright State were a lot more upbeat and up tone, there are a lot more people, a lot more to do on campus,” admitted Patterson. “Although, I do like it here at Slippery Rock, it’s laid back, so it gives me a lot more time to focus on school work and athletics.” In contrast to playing mostly off the bench for Wright State, Patterson put up 12.6 points a night in 2015-16 as a starter for the Green and White. Shooting 43% from three-point range, good for the fifth best single-season percentage in school history, Patterson’s quick trigger from long range and quick hands nabbing 1.7 steals a game, which led the team, helped The Rock notch their best season since 2005-06. After sitting out the following season for personal reasons, Patterson returned for junior season and led the team in scoring at 15.8 points per game and recorded a teamhigh 29 three-pointers in just 11 games. Now in the final season of her tumultuous career, Patterson is ready for one final PSAC title push.

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Senior forward Morgan Henderson competes for a lose ball against Bowie State. Henderson is one of two seniors for the women’s team this season.

McGraw feels as though Patterson will be the key piece now that she has come into the season healthy following a full offseason and that will enable the Green and White to compete with the likes of Edinboro University, Indiana University (Pa.) and California University (Pa.). “We can go back to the Millersville game, she was the PSAC West Athlete of the Week. That was one of the dominating performances I’ve ever been a part of,” McGraw recounted. “Ciara Patterson is the heart and soul of this team, she brings the fire.” Despite being the only two seniors for The Rock, Slippery Rock head coach Bobby McGraw said that the talented pair has no issues in practically running practice day in and day out for the Green and White. “With that veteran leadership, you see it on the floor every day. Practices now are on cruise control because the veterans take over,” commented McGraw. “Our drills not looking right? I hardly have to say anything

because they take over.” The PSAC-CIAA Challenge over the weekend of November 10 and 11 allowed Henderson and Patterson to showcase their talent against quality non-conference opponents. Despite splitting the games over the weekend, Patterson picked right up from where she left off last season. Patterson has already hit eight threepointers this season. Hitting 12 points against Johnson C. Smith and 17 against Elizabeth City State College, Patterson showcased her sharpshooting tendencies while racking up five steals. Henderson, shooting 55% from the field through two games, has scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds. While winning on paper is always easier said than done, Rock women’s basketball is set up for a true breakout season. The type of season which has not been experienced in decades and it all starts with Morgan Henderson and Ciara Patterson.

Rock women set to start conference play

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Daeja Quick dribbls past defenders on her way past midcourt. The sophomore guard leads the team in assists so far this season.

By Steve Cukovich Managing Editor

Slippery Rock University women’s basketball is set to get their first taste of conference action this week as they are set to take on East Stroudsburg University on Monday after starting the 2018-19 season with six out of conference games compiling a 2-4 opening record. The Rock was picked to finish fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West in the annual preseason coaches poll with defending champion Edinboro University (27-4) picked to finish

first. Indiana University (Pa.) (30-4) was picked to come in second, with California University (Pa.) (24-7) slatted to finish in third. “But at the end of the day it is a big deal,” SRU women’s basketball head coach Bobby McGraw said. “That is our highest preseason ranking in 18 years. We are ranked behind three national powers.” McGraw enters his fifth season at the helm of The Rock’s women’s basketball program, and has compiled a 45-66 overall record. Last season the Green and White went 12-16, landing themselves a spot in the PSAC Tournament for the second time under McGraw. The Rock went 10-12 in PSAC action last season. SRU returns five starters from last season including All-PSAC honoree junior guard Brooke Hinderliter who averaged 14.1 points per game last season with 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals. Hinderliter shot 43.7 percent from the field last season and 86.1 percent from the free throw line. “Brooke tries to elevate her game everyday,” McGraw said. “Depending what time you walk in, day, night, whatever, she’ll be out running, be in the weight room. Brooke Hinderliter is never satisfied with what she did the day before.” The returning senior class is a bit thin with just two returning players in forward Morgan Henderson and guard Ciara Patterson. Henderson has competed in every game since her sophomore season, while averaging a career-high 9.3 points per game last season, with 18 blocks, and a field goal percentage of 48.8 percent. Patterson started 11 games last season and in that time averaged 15.8 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 2 assists. “Ciara Patterson is the heart and soul of this team,” McGraw said. “She brings the fire and it’s a big deal to have her back.” With just two seniors on the roster this season, coach McGraw feels there is still leadership looming in the locker room.

“LeeAnn Gibson is going to be a three-year starter, two-year captain. Brooke Hinderliter is going to be a three-year starter,” McGraw said. “We have a ton of leadership other than the two seniors on paper.” Part of the core junior class includes forward LeeAnn Gibson who hasn’t missed a game since first stepping onto the court her freshman year. Following a standout freshman year, Gibson averaged 6.6 points per game last season with 4.8 rebounds and shot 49.3 percent from the field. Last year, St. Francis University transfer guard Madison Johnson made 22 starts last season in her first year with The Rock and averaged 9.2 points per game, including a 27-point performance against Shippensburg University, 17 points against Clarion University, and 18 points against Seton Hill University. The Rock welcomes a few transfer athletes to the program including junior forward Karington Ketterer from Pitt-Johnstown, sophomore guard Daeja Quick, and redshirt sophomore guard Kasch Harris. “Karington Ketterer is built like a cage fighter and she plays like one. She’s strong, she steps on the floor with two goals in mind: to defend and to rebound,” McGraw said. “Daeja Quick, electric is about the best word I can use. She averaged 16 points per game last year as a true freshman at the District of Columbia.” Rounding out the rest of the PSAC West from the preseason coaches poll includes number five Gannon University (16-13), Seton Hill University (20-10), Mercyhurst University (10-18), Pitt-Johnstown (10-17), and Clarion University (7-21) in ninth. The way the conference looks from top to bottom, according to coach McGraw, any program can win on any given night with talent up and down the board in the West. “There really isn’t a bottom half of this league and that’s not coach speak,” McGraw said. “Teams can get clipped in this league if they don’t come ready to go every single night. The bottom really isn’t there so to speak.”

December 7, 2018

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2019 WOMENS ROSTER MADISON JOHNSON

DAEJA QUICK

#1 REDSHIRT JUNIOR POSITION: GUARD 5’8 KNOX, PA

#2 SOPHOMORE POSITION: GUARD 5’6 CORAOPOLIS, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: CANDANCE PARKER

FAVORITE ATHLETE:

SLASHING SHOT CREATOR

PLAYMAKING SHARPSHOOTER STUDENT ATHLETE

STUDENT ATHLETE

MARISSA HOPSON

KASCH HARRIS #3 REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE POSITION: GUARD 5’5 PHILADELPHIA, PA

#4 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 5’9 FARRELL, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: STEPH CURRY

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

PLAYMAKING DEFENDER STUDENT ATHLETE

SHARPSHOOTER STUDENT ATHLETE

OLIVIA FUSARO

CIARA PATTERSON #5 REDSHIRT SENIOR POSITION: GUARD 5’7 NORTH VERSILLES, PA

#11 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 5’8 WEST SHAMOKIN, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: BROOQUE WILLIAMS

FAVORITE ATHLETE: BROOKE HINDERLITER

TWO-WAY STAR STUDENT ATHLETE

SHARPSHOOTER STUDENT ATHLETE

SKYLA O’CONNOR

EMILY FRASER #12 FRESHMEN POSITION: GUARD 5’7 SAXONBURG, PA

#15 SOPHOMORE POSITION: GUARD 5’8 MEDFORD, NJ

FAVORITE ATHLETE: KASCH HARRIS

FAVORITE ATHLETE: KYRIE IRVING

PERIMETER DEFENDER STUDENT ATHLETE

LEEANN GIBSON

BRITTANY ANDREWS

#20 JUNIOR POSITION: FORWARD 5’10 CHICORA, PA

#22 SOPHOMORE POSITION: FORWARD 5’9 PITTSBURGH, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: SHARROL WILSON

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

PAINT PROTECTOR STUDENT ATHLETE

POST SCORER STUDENT ATHLETE

BROOKE HINDERLITER

KARINGTON KETTERER

#23 JUNIOR POSITION: CENTER 6’0 SEMINOLE, PA

#24 JUNIOR POSITION: FORWARD 6’0 ELLWOOD CITY, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LEBRON JAMES

FAVORITE ATHLETE: DWAYNE WADE

ALL AROUND SUPERSTAR STUDENT ATHLETE

PAINT PROTECTOR STUDENT ATHLETE

NYLLA CROOKS

MORGAN HENDERSON

#34 SOPHOMORE POSITION: FORWARD 5’11 PHILADELPHIA, PA

#35 SENIOR POSITION: FORWARD 6’2 EIGHTY FOUR, PA

FAVORITE ATHLETE: CANDACE PARKER

FAVORITE ATHLETE: LARRY BIRD

TENACIOUS REBOUNDER STUDENT ATHLETE

RUSSELL WESTBROOK

LOW POST STAR STUDENT ATHLETE

FOLLOW ROCK BASKETBALL 2K19 O N T W I T T E R @S R U S J B A S K E T B A L L FOR MORE UPDATES ON BOTH TEAMS

December 7, 2018

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More than a game Rock Senior balances basketball with parenthood By Lance Sloan Reporter

Ciara Patterson is not your average student athlete. In addition to working hard in the classroom and on the court, she is the proud mother of her soon to be six-year-old daughter, Camryn. Patterson is a red-shirt senior transfer guard for the SRU Women’s Basketball team. A transfer from Wright State University in 2015, Patterson’s basketball talent made her an instant star for The Rock. Moving into her senior season, Patterson said she had many obstacles and added stress to fight through. However, she continues to play the game she loves. “I have been playing basketball since I was five, “Patterson said. “I started played at the YMCA and also White Oak Athletic Association. It has always been a big part of my life.” Most college student athletes have a lot of stress from having to keep up with their studies, practices, travel and getting the right amount of nutrition and sleep to be successful in their sport. In the case of Patterson, she also adds trying to make time to see her daughter and help co-parent whenever she can. “I find that my biggest struggle off the basketball court, and also in being a parent while being a college athlete, is simply not being able to see my daughter enough, “Patterson said. “I don’t get spend as much time with her as I want, but I know I’m doing what is best for me and my daughters future,” Patterson said. Patterson is no stranger to these challenges and the affect they have on her basketball career. Ciara had signed a letter of intent with Memphis University to continue her basketball dreams, but was sidelined most of her junior season due to

her pregnancy and decommitted herself. Despite having her daughter Camryn Nicole Patterson in that season, Patterson still returned to finish off her junior season, taking her West Mifflin High School team on a deep playoff run. Throughout much of the school year, Patterson does not get to see Camryn nearly as much as she wants, and takes any opportunity she can get to visit with her daughter. “I don’t get to see my daughter as much in the fall semester with everything being so crazy with classes and all the preseason activities for basketball, “Patterson said. “Spring semester is much better because we have a lot of games and my mom does a good job of trying to bring her to as many of them as she can. I try to get home for weekends as much as possible, and my mom, grandmother and Camryn’s father help me a lot to care for her while I am up at school.” Patterson said. Patterson has a determined attitude on and off the court. It is that drive and work ethic that she says is helping to push her towards her ultimate goal. “My personal role model is a former PSAC guard, Brooque Willaims,” Patterson said. “Her personal dedication, hardwork, and work ethic on and off the basketball court is something I really try to bring to my own life and own game.” Patterson has big expectations for herself and the team this season. The Rock was projected to finish fourth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s (PSAC) western division prior to the start of the season. “My personal goal is to get my stats up a decent amount to eventually land me playing somewhere overseas after I graduate,” Patterson said. “Our team goal is to win the PSAC and to make it farther than ever before in the postseason.”

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Ciara Patterson works past a defender from Bowie State Univesity. The senior guard strives to lead by example on and off the court.

Despite all the added stresses on Patterson’s life, she still manages to balance them all and continue to defy any odds put against her. Patterson will be one of the Women’s Teams senior leaders, averaging 13.3 points per game in her career at SRU heading into this season. Patterson said that she will be focusing on using her experience to help lead the Rock Women’s team to a very successful 2018-19 season.

Don’t call it a comeback Rock forward refuses to let injury define his career By Adam Zook Editor-In-Chief

Conventional wisdom would say that a torn meniscus is the end of a basketball player’s career. Even if they manage to play again, their ability to make an impact on the court can be severely limited. Senior forward Vinny Lasley has something to say about that, and he is letting his play on the hardwood do the talking for him. “I can’t do a lot of the things I used to do out on the court,” Lasley said. “I try to bring energy off the bench and be a leader on this team.” Lasley has emulated the role of a leader so far this season according to Acting Head Coach Ian Grady. He referred to Lasley as the model student athlete, and was thankful to have him back for the 2018-19 season. “Vinny really leads by example in and out of the locker room,” Grady said. “I know that this is cliché to say, but he really is a team-oriented player. Vinny is selfless in everything that he does for the team, always putting them first above himself.” Grady’s praise of Lasley has been evident through The Rock’s early portion of the season. When the team needs a clutch rebound or a deep outlet pass to spark the offense, Lasley is always at the center of the action. Through the first four games of the season, Lasley is averaging 4.3 points and 6.3 rebounds a game in just under 19 minutes per contest. While those numbers might not jump out at the casual fan, Grady appreciates the impact that Lasley provides during critical junctures in the game. “Vinny is always hustling out there and

PHOTO BY PARIS MALONE

Redshirt senior Vinny Lasley converts on an open layup against Ohio Eastern University.

providing his best effort on the court,” Grady said. “His work ethic and knowledge improve the play of our four other guys when he’s out there.” It is hard to imagine that Lasley had to wear a

leg brace all of last season as he watched The Rock win 21 games. After the team’s first home contest, a 108-70 victory over Carlow, Lasley was happy to see his hard work pay off and to return to the court. “It felt really good to be back with the team,” Lasley said. “I like playing in front of the home crowd and with my teammates. We have a good group of guys this year” Lasley had never played with a member of the current Rock roster prior to this season. Star forward Micah Till is the only returning player from last year’s team, who joined in the Fall of 2017. While other players might have been uncomfortable or even left the team altogether, Lasley was ready to prove himself and honor his family. “The biggest factor in me coming back and playing again was my family,” Lasley said. “I come from a small community in Iowa. Me going out and playing hard is a way of making my family and my home town proud.” Lasley attended high school in Tama, Iowa where he lettered in basketball and football. Prior to playing for The Rock, he spent two years at Marshalltown Community College, appearing in 58 games for the team. In his final season, Lasley is confident that this year’s Rock squad has what it takes to play in the postseason. He hopes that he can be a leader down the stretch and motivate his teammates to play to the best of their ability. “This team has a lot of talent and potential that can take us a long way,” Lasley said. “I want to see us go far in March and play our best game when we step out on the court.”

Fall 2018 Sports Journalism Class Editor-In-Chief: Adam Zook Managing Editor: Steve Cukovich Copy Editor: Oscar Matous

Page Designer: Erinn Greene Reporters: Asst. Page Designer: Eric Holstein Photo Editor: Katelynn Whitling Asst. Photo Editor: Anthony Clifford Multimedia Editor: Haley Potter Asst. Multimedia Editor: Aaron Marrie

Troy Adams Jarrett Bailey Maculley Bell Jessica Damico Karl Ludwig Michael Senge Lance Sloan

Section Advisor: Mark Zeltner