For only the second time this season, the Delphi boys' basketball team got to experience the luxury of what it is like to play a game while holding a lead.

But unlike the loss to Benton Central last weekend, this time Delphi was able to hold on and close out the game with an impressive 53-39 victory over Tri-County, coming to town as the State's Class 1A #15- ranked team.

The Oracles led by as many as 13 points at 37-24 early in the 4th quarter, but the Cavaliers (2-3) would rally back to cut the lead to within six at 41- 35 with two minutes remaining.

But Delphi would hit 12-of- 16 free throws down the stretch, including 10 of its last 12, as foul shooting became the difference-maker to pull-away with a 14-point margin of victory.

"We're really happy to get a win," Oracle head coach Brian Tonsoni said. "We overcame a lot of adversity this week, and that is what the game of basketball is all about."

"For the kids to respond the way they did tonight after such an emotional, heart-breaking loss the night before is just outstanding," he said. "I couldn't be any prouder of them."

After a defensive-struggle for most of the game which found the score just 29-20 after three periods, both teams seemed to find their offense in the final stanza with the Oracles putting 24 points on the board to the Cavs' 19.

Both teams experienced an offensive drought to start the game, which saw Tri-County take a 6-4 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. With the game tied at 8-8 early in the 2nd quarter, Delphi went on a 10-0 run to take an 18-8 lead that it would never relinquish.

The Oracles outscored TC 14- 6 in the 2nd period to take an 18- 12 lead into the halftime intermission. They extended their lead to nine at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The victory avenged last season's 43-26 loss at Tri-County in Delphi's worst offensive performance of the year.

Michael Myers led all scorers with 14 points, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, while Kory Banes added 12 points and shared team-high rebounding honors with Dustin Oliver with seven apiece.

Oliver chipped in with nine points, while Justin Snider added six, Matt Lewis five, Austin Hawn four, Kyle Bender two and Tanner Cripe one.

Vs. Clinton Prairie

Clinton Prairie hit a last-second three-pointer from the topof the-key to win it for the Gophers, 63-60.

Delphi trailed by as much as 11 points at 50-39 with 30 seconds left in the 3rd quarter before furiously fighting all the way back to tie the score at 60- 60 on an Oliver three-pointer with 58.7 seconds to play.

But it was not to be as the Gophers (4-3) held onto the ball for the final shot, and Dustin Filbin swished it through the net as the buzzer sounded.

The Oracles (1-5) took their only lead of the game at 2-0 on two Hawn free throws before CP scored seven straight to take a lead that they would hold onto until the game's final minute. Delphi had four players score in double-figures led by Oliver's 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, followed by Myers with 18, Banes with 11 and Hawn with 10. Banes led the Oracles with eight rebounds, while Oliver added six boards.

JV wins two

Paul Zink led all scorers with a career-high 25 points on 12-of- 18 shooting from the field and posted team-highs in both rebounds (6) and steals (8) to lead the Delphi JV (4-2) to a 45-33 victory over Tri-County.

Dustin Salyer added eight points, Kris Bender finished with six, while A.J. Erskin had four & Tanner Cripe two.

The young Oracles placed three in double-figures in their 47-33 win over the Gophers. They were led by Salyer's 13 points, Zink's 11 and Bender's 10.

Zink played an excellent allthen around floor game leading Delphi with nine rebounds, seven steals and four assists.

Cripe added eight points and six boards, with Seferino Cervantes and Jo Britt chipping in with two points apiece and Erskin with one.

Delphi plays only one game this weekend before the Christmas holiday, hosting Pioneer on Friday night with the JV starting at 6 p.m.