Oracle JV captures win; varsity continues to slide
By Brad Brummett

The Oracle JV fell to the North White Vikings in opening round competition of the White County Tourney held Jan. 15-16. Despite a good comeback and tying the game in the final seconds, the Tri- County Cavaliers hit two foul shots to seal the victory over the Oracles in the consolation game.

Despite the losses earlier in the week, the JV squad captured their first victory of the season, 22-21, over Sheridan Friday night. A low scoring game, the Oracles took a lead in the first period and never looked back. The Oracles positioned themselves for rebounding and applied good defensive pressure to seal the win.

Oracle forward Neil Snoeberger sprained his knee in the third quarter and is on the Oracle injured list.

The Varsity Oracles lost the conference match up with the Blackhawks, 56-49. Delphi kept close with Sheridan, led by Michael Myers hitting a season high 31 points. The Blackhawks answered with three players in double figures. Nick Zachery led with 20, Luke Waitt and Robert each added 10 points each.

The Blackhawks controlled the boards and took advantage of some easy put backs on the offensive side. Quick transition passes set up from Oracle turnovers helped Sheridan on the defensive side. The first quarter ended with Sheridan leading 14-10. Myers hit two from long range, and Kory Banes and Dustin Oliver each hit a basket.

The Oracles could only close the gap by one point, down 26- 23 at half. Myers scored 11 points in the quarter, hitting two from behind the arch, and Oliver making a basket.

The Blackhawks kept the lead in the third and kept Delphi at bay in the final period, out rebounding the Oracles in critical times of the final stanza.

Saturday night Delphi hit the road again, playing a well coached Lewis Cass team.

The JV opened the game, leading the first period 7-6. Paul Zink started the second period with a basket. The Kings took advantage of some turnovers and went on a 14 to 0 run, leading 20-9 at half. Cass expanded its lead in the third, 34-18.

The Oracles opened the fourth with four quick points but were blanked for the remainder of the period as the Kings cruised to a 44-22 victory. Kris Bender led the Oracles in scoring with 9 points, Paul Zink added 5, Quinton Pearson 4, and Tanner Cripe and Matt Wilcox each had a basket.

The Varsity Kings (10-2), ranked 8th in Class 2A, opened with a 6-0 run before the Oracles scored. Kyle Bender scored first, followed by Oliver and Myers added a foul shot. Taylor Bowser scored 9 points to help Cass build an 18-5 lead after one. The Oracles hung tough in the second. The middle of the period was all Oracles, down by 19, Myers hit a foul shot and made a basket on Delphi's next possession. Kyle Stonebraker hit a basket and Myers followed with a three pointer. A miss by the Kings set up a transition basket by Oliver. Next Banes forced a turnover by way of taking a charge. Myers then hit a jumper to pull Delphi within seven. The Kings answered with a three pointer and rebounded an Oracle miss to build the lead to 12. Oliver answered, hitting a final Oracle score with a long range shot for three. Cass took a comfortable 11 point lead at half, 31-20.

The Kings opened to a 26 point lead in the third and cruised in the fourth, capping a 68-37 victory. Bowser led the Kings with 25 points. Myers and Bender were in double figures for the Oracles, 11 and 10 points respectively. Oliver added 9 points, Tanner Cripe made 3 foul shots. Stonebraker hit a basket, and Erik Jones put back a rebound for 2 points.

The Oracles travel Friday night to West Lafayette for a 6:30 p.m. JV tip-off and Saturday night at Maconaquah (6 p.m.)