Oracles tame Panthers for second victory
By Brad Brummett

The Delphi Oracles overcame a few obstacles to record their second victory.

At Pioneer Saturday for an afternoon game, the Varsity Oracles warmed up after a sluggish start and Dustin Oliver sealed the victory, hitting 16 of 18 fouls shots in the final period for a 67-61 Oracle advantage.

With a change in their schedule, the Oracles hosted Twin Lakes Thursday night, and the (10-8) Indians out rebounded the Oracles 45 to 18 to aide in a 59 - 41 victory.

The Oracles struggled to get rebounding position, Twin Lakes had a 2-point lead at the end of the first period, 16-14. TL closed the second period with a ten point lead, 29-19. Delphi kept pace in the early minutes of the third period, then the Indians went on a ten-point run. Kory Banes hit another of his buzzer beater shots, a long range three pointer. Delphi trailed 46-32. The Indians wore down the Oracles, outscoring them 13 to 9 in the final stanza to win the conference game 59- 41.

Michael Myers led Delphi, scoring 14 points. Kyle Bender and Kory Banes had 9 points each, Dustin Oliver added 8 points and Erik Jones 1 point. Zach Raderstorf led the Indians with 11 points.

The JV closed the final period with a 13-6 point spread, but came up short 47-41.

Two Oracles were in double figures, Tanner Cripe with 15 points and Paul Zink with 10 points. Five other Oracles contributed on the offensive side for Delphi in the short fall.

At Pioneer the JV led the Panthers 10-6 after one period. Missed foul shots during the last three quarters would be the difference of this game. At halftime the Oracles trailed 16-11, with 5 missed foul shots. Scoring was split evenly between teams as the third period ended 28-23 in favor of the Panthers. The Oracles were 2 of 6 from the line in the third. The Oracles closed the gap to within three and had a last second chance to tie but came up short, 40-37.

Delphi's fourth period foul shooting improved, hitting 8 of 10 attempts. A J Beckett led the Oracles with 12 points, Paul Zink and Joe Britt had 7 points each. Britt made his presence known, playing one of his best games this season. The Panthers have 11 juniors on their squad, six playing against Delphi's younger team.

Matt Lewis and Michael Myers started out on fire for the Oracle varsity. Myers hit a three pointer to bring Delphi to life after Pioneer opened with 2 baskets from their 6'7" junior center Justin Ruff. Lewis then hit a long shot after a Pioneer miss. Jimmy Smith countered with a trey for the Panthers and a 7-6 lead. Pioneer worked their next possession inside to Ruff for a basket. Lewis hit his second long ball, tying the score at 11 each. Both teams scored on their next trips to the hoop, then Myers scored two consecutive baskets coming off steals. Mitchell Petrie scored the final basket of the first period, Delphi 19, Pioneer 15.

Myers had the range, starting the second, hitting two quick three pointers, the last coming off another Oracle steal. Taylor Farrer hit a long shot for Pioneer and was followed by teammate Cody Conn with a basket and a foul shot. Conn missed the foul shot, Delphi rebounded and Myers was open behind the arch and he drained a three pointer. The Panthers came back with an 8-point run to tie the game at 28 all. Myers made an Oracle basket and Conn made a Panther score to end the second period with a 30-30 tie.

Farrer scored a basket for Pioneer to open the third period. Bender put one in under the basket and Dustin Oliver hit a jumper. Pioneer took the lead with a basket from Matt Stough and a foul shot by Ruff, 35-34. Banes scored a basket for Delphi but Farrer came down and sank a three pointer to put Pioneer up by two. Delphi fought back with a basket by Banes and Bender scored following a Panther miss. Stough was left open and he connected on a three pointer to even the score at 41 each. Banes once again made a buzzer beater to give Delphi a two-point advantage at the end of three periods.

Stough scored in the opening possession of the final period and knotted the game at 43. Myers answered with an oldfashioned three pointer, a basket and a foul shot. Oliver then made 14 of 16 foul shots to seal the deal. The Oracles secured their second victory.

Bender and Snider each hit a foul shot during this mayhem as both teams went into double bonus. Final score was 67-61. Myers led all scorers with 26 points, Oliver 18 points, Banes 10, Lewis and Bender 6 points each and Snider with 1. Erik Jones helped the team coming off the bench to give Bender a breather and help put some pressure on their big guy - Ruff. Panthers had two in double figures, Ruff 15 and Conn with 12.

Friday night Delphi will host South Newton, JV tip at 6:30 p.m.