With another section title, a return trip to the WPIAL title game and a legendary 50-point playoff performance, the Serra Catholic basketball season boasted numerous accomplishments.

One game in particular though, stands out among those for veteran Serra coach Bob Rozanski.

After not having experienced a regular-season section loss in nearly four years, a 36-game section winning streak, the defending WPIAL champions were stunned by Clairton in mid January. Showing how far his team had come in three weeks, Rozanski's team responded in a big way with a 44-point route of Clairton on the road on the Bears' senior night. Well, technically, it wasn't a true road game because Clairton was forced to use Jefferson Elementary School in the West Jefferson Hills School District, when its own gym became in need of repair. Nontheless ...

"They had something to prove that night," Rozanski said.

"That was a real tough loss at home the first time. I can't fully explain why we lost that game but we knew Feb. 6 we had a chance to make amends for that loss. We went up to [Jefferson Elementary] and just put it to them. We really felt good about that game. That was a real satisfying night for us and gave us the momentum that we had going into the postseason."

The Eagles carried that momentum into a return trip to the WPIAL title game and to the PIAA quarterfinals. They fell to Sewickley Academy, 71-57, in the WPIAL final before winning two games over Conemaugh Valley and Shade to reach the state quarters where Serra's season came to an end with a 63-51 loss to Elk County Catholic.

"We had 23 wins, we won [shared with Clairton, actually] the section [title] again and made it to the WPIAL title game, but the deeper you go in the tournament it is always hard when you lose," Rozanski said.

"With those peaks and valleys, the hardest thing for me, it is those valleys. But we have nothing to be ashamed of. It has been a great two-year run."

Many expected a playoff run for Serra, the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions from a year ago, but the five wins in the playoffs were even more impressive considering the circumstances. A suspension, injuries and illnesses -- after avoiding those hurdles for most of the season -- came at the worst of times for Serra.

Junior guard Rob Heatherington was suspended for the WPIAL title game after being ejected for fighting in a semifinal victory against Neshannock, senior forward Eric Jurofcic was lost for the season with an ACL injury that he sustained in the same game and senior point guard T.J. Heatherington battled the flu through some of the playoffs.

Playing with a depleted lineup and being under the weather still did not stop T.J. Heatherington from one of the most impressive postseasons in WPIAL history. He followed a 50-point performance against Neshannock in the WPIAL semifinals with a 37-point game in the WPIAL title game to give him 135 total points in four WPIAL playoff games, second only to Drew Schifino's 2000 playoff run where the Penn Hills guard scored 147. T.J. Heatherington is headed to Point Park to play basketball next year.

"He really blossomed this year. We really leaned on him and he carried us," Rozanski said. "He really took control of this team and after my son [Marc] graduated [in 2007], T.J. just stepped right in. He has had a tremendous two years."

T.J. Heatherington was a two-year starter, taking over the point guard duties after coach Rozanski's son, Marc, graduated two years ago. It was in a Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer league game against Gateway before his junior year when Rozanski realized that Heatherington could have a special career.

Other seniors whom Serra will have to replace next year are Dave Menzies, who emerged as a post player this season after Serra lost 6-foot-8 all-section center Pat Grubbs a year ago, forward Alex Matta, also a two-year starter, Jurofcic and sixth man A.J. Merzlak.

"We lose some pretty good seniors but our program is such that we have capable people falling in place next year," Rozanski said.

"We've been winning and our JV team is doing well and it's their turn now. Those seniors have experienced a lot of winning and they showed these younger kids how to win."