Oracles lose conference opener to BC
By Brad Brummett

Delphi’s Oracles continue to look for their first victory, losing 55-41 to the Benton Central Bison. They will have to improve their shooting percentages to prevail.

A tenacious Oracle “D” gets opponent turnovers, but it’s important to take advantage of them on the scoring end of the court.

Friday night the Oracles controlled the tip and took what would be their only lead of the night 2-0.

The Bison answered with a 3- pointer and took advantage of two Delphi misses, Foster added a basket and Wolfe hit a trey for an 8-2 lead. Dustin Oliver hit a basket for Delphi but BC’s Schoen hit a trey from a blocked ball under the basket. Michael Myers hit his first trey of the night to pull Delphi within 4. BC’s Schoen added 2 as did Delphi’s Kyle Bender. Delphi’s “D” caused a turnover and Bender was fouled and hit 1 of 2 free throws. BC answered with a basket to end the first quarter 15 -10.

Delphi opened the second period with a reach-in foul. The Bison took the ball from out-of-bounds and made a three pointer. BC rebounded an Oracle miss but stepped out-of-bounds. Delphi took advantage of this turnover as Myers hit a jumper. Delphi soon turned the ball back to BC after a traveling call from a Bison missed shot. Schoen hit a basket and Myers hit his second 3-pointer to pull Delphi back in the game 20-15. The Bison controlled the ball as Morgan hit a basket and Schoen added another of his treys after an Oracle turnover. Corey Banes drove the lane between two defenders for an Oracle basket. The last Oracle basket before half came from Banes with 1:22 left. The Bison scored on a drive to the hoop and both teams would miss their last attempts as time ran out at half with BC up 27- 19.

BC’s Schoen was fouled and hit both free throws to open up third quarter scoring. Myers hit a basket and knocked the ball out-ofbounds. Delphi’s Matt Lewis rebounded a Bison miss but Bison pressure caused the %Oracles a 10- second turnover. BC ran the score up 6 points before Banes hit 2 for Delphi, 35-23. Both teams would score 4 more and a tough Oracle defense kept the Bison from getting a good shot to end the third stanza, 39-27.

The Oracles would pull within 9 points midway in the fourth period. Good defense kept the Oracles in the game in spurts. The ball didn’t bounce the Oracles’ way either –one tie-up for the ball, the BC coach calls time out and keeps control. Shortly after, BC found Foster open under the basket after the ball was tipped over the half court line. The Bison opened the lead to 15 before Banes added a jumper. Both teams exchanged 2 free throws. Myers ended Oracle scoring with a three pointer with 23.5 seconds remaining. Schoen hit 2 free throws after a foul and Myers’ last attempt was off target.

BC controlled the boards, 25 to 16. Delphi only had four players in the scoring column -Myers with 17, Banes 13, Bender 9 and Oliver 2.

The Bison also won the JV contest, 42-28.

The Oracles have away games both Friday and Saturday nights - Clinton Prairie and Tri-County.