Lady Oracles winless, but improving with each game
By Todd Swank

Lady Oracle Kristina Barnard scores during the consolation game of the White County Tourney. Tri-County won the game 35-33. Bill Stauffer photo

When a team loses three games in a five-day span it doesn’t usually mean that a team is improving. After losing their previous two games by a combined 90 points, the ladies were in a position to win two of the games. Delphi traveled to Cass last Tuesday and came away with a 61-30 loss. In the White County tourney played at Frontier on Thursday the Oracles lost to North White 47-36 and in the third place game on Saturday the Tri County Cavaliers narrowly defeated the Oracles 35-33.

The first half was all that the Cass Kings needed to subdue the Oracles. The Oracles could only manage to hit 3 of 26 shots and committed 12 turnovers. They were behind at the midpoint of the game, 35-8. Brianne Stauffer scored five of the eight.

Delphi’s defense improved by getting rid of the zone and playing some man-to-man. With this strategy they held their opponent scoreless for over six minutes to start the third period. However, their offense didn’t improve because during this time they could only manage to score six points of their own. The third period ended at 39-16, Cass.

The final period was much like the first three with the Kings pulling away at the end for the final 61-30 score.

White County Tourney

Even though the North White Vikings had failed to win a game all year, including a 38-35 earlier loss to Delphi, they weren’t ready to accept a second loss to the Oracles. The game started with the Oracles committing eight consecutive turnovers. Delphi’s first attempt at the basket was a free throw at the 4:52 mark. After missing both tries, the Oracles still trailed by a 7-0 score. The lead would reach 9-0 before the Oracles could score on a free throw by Kristina Barnard after nearly seven minutes of play. Erika Hawn hit a pair of free throws to end the first period; North White led 9-3. The Oracles were fortunate to only trail by six. They had ten turnovers and had missed all five of their field goal tries.

Amanda Schultz hit the Oracles’ first basket of the game to cut the NW lead to seven at 12-5. A Barnard bucket ten seconds later brought the Oracles closer at 12- 7. Delphi trailed at the half, 17- 10.

Brianne Stauffer and Hannah Strasser of Delphi opened the third with baskets. NW pulled away to leads of 25-14 and eventually 29-17 in the period. Delphi finally found its eye and

started a comeback with Stauffer and Barnard scoring the next five points. Schultz hit a basket to close the third on the short end of a 32-24 score.

Stauffer and Olivia George each had a pair of points to open the final period. Suddenly the Oracles had momentum and only trailed 32-28. This was the time for leaders to step forward and complete the rally, instead the Vikings ran off seven unanswered points in just over a minute to put the lead back to 11 at 39-28. Delphi could get no closer then ten the rest of the way.

In the tourney consolation game against Tri County the Oracles played a competitive game. The first quarter ended with Delphi ahead 8-7. Stauffer, Zink, Hawn and Strasser each had a bucket. Strasser scored three more baskets to keep the Oracles ahead, 16-14. The Oracle lead would remain at two to four points for the remainder of the half. Schultz, Zink and Stauffer each had a score. Delphi led 22- 18 at the half.

The third started with Schultz hitting a trey for Delphi, followed by another Zink basket to stretch the lead to 27-18. With 2:25 left in the third, Strasser hit a pair of free throws and Delphi had a comfortable lead at 31-23. The game situation changed when the Cavaliers stepped up their defensive pressure and the Oracles didn’t respond. Delphi could not score anymore in the third and their lead was down to five at 31-26.

Tri County scored the first four points of the final period before the Oracles would get a basket. It would be the last score of the game for Delphi. Tri County scored the game’s final five points to claim the 35-33 win.

While this is seven losses in a row, there is improvement in this team. They can play a man-toman defense to compliment their zone. Strasser and Joanna Zink are playing better and good things happen when they play up to their potential.