South Newton Rebels top Delphi's Oracles
By Brad Brummett Contributing sportswriter

Delphi had the roads cleared for a home basketball game Friday night against South Newton. The Delphi players were cold from the opening JV game and didn't warm up all night.

The Rebels took a 10 point advantage before Paul Zink scored for the Oracle JV team. Rebel Jordan Zeider dominated the game in scoring, leading both JV teams with 24 points. Zink led Delphi with 10 points, followed by AJ Erskin with 8 points, Kris Bender 7 points and AJ Beckett 3 points. The Rebels won the opener 49 to 28.

The varsity opened with a three-point exhibition, Scott Chapman and Brice Willey hit treys for the Rebels' first two possessions. Michael Myers added one for the Oracles only to be countered by another long range score by Chapman. Delphi recovered from the six-point deficit before the quarter ended, down by just one point, 20-19. Myers added a second three pointer and two baskets. Kory Banes hit 2 foul shots and a basket, Kyle Bender made 3 of 4 from the charity stripe and Dustin Oliver added a basket.

The Oracles were doubled in scoring during the second period. Delphi struggled in rebounding on both ends of the court. The Rebels only had one rebound tip in for the period but took advantage of Oracle misses and took a 12- point lead at half time, 41 to 29.

Delphi played hard in the third period, trimming a 15- point lead down to 11 points going into the final stanza. The Rebels opened the fourth with a basket and a steal by Eric Watt. Watt was fouled and the basket was good, adding the foul shot to open the lead to 56-40. Oliver scored two foul shots for Delphi and Myers added a basket after a Rebel miss to close the gap to 12. S. Newton countered with two unanswered baskets by Winkler and Chapman. Myers hit one of two free throws and following an Oracle steal, Banes made two foul shots. Winkler came back with a Rebel basket, Oliver countered with a trey for the Oracles. The score was now 62-50. Winkler hit a basket followed by two fouls shots each by Rebel teammates Willey and Watt. Justin Snider closed the scoring with two foul shots. Final score was 68-52.

South Newton (11-5) had four players in double figures, led by Watt with 18 points. He scored in all four periods. Austin Polen scored 17 points, all in the second and third periods, while Chapman added 13 points and Willey 10 points.

Delphi had two double figure scorers, Myers with 19 points and Bender with 12 points. Oliver added 9 points, Banes 8 points and Matt Lewis and Justin Snider each contributed 2 points.

Delphi wrapped up the regular season by traveling to Clinton Central Tuesday night and finish at home Friday night against Rensselaer at 7 p.m. Friday night is Senior Night for winter sport athletes.

Come and cheer on the Oracles at their last home basket ball game.