Lady Oracles open with a pair of wins
By Todd Swank Contributing sportswriter

Aggressive Oracles Delphi's Hannah Strasser, Kylee German and Whitney Arion (l-r) scramble for a loose ball against Geurin Catholic last week. The Lady Oracles won the opening game of their 2007- 08 season, 45-32. Bill Stauffer photo

Delphi girls opened their basketball season with a pair of wins, defeating Guerin Catholic at home 45-32, followed by a 42-39 win at Pioneer on Saturday.

Guerin was the perfect team for the Oracles for their first game of the season. With so many blowout losses last year, Delphi's new coach Dan Dawson said that one thing he wanted to work on this year was the team's ability to believe in itself. Playing a small school that had only been in existence for a few years went a long way toward that. If the players didn't believe in themselves after the Friday night game, then the Saturday game should have put them over the top. After trailing for nearly the whole game against the Panthers, the Oracles came from behind to pull out the win.

Against Guerin, senior Amanda Schultz scored on the first possession of the game with an assist to freshman Whitney Arion, giving the Oracles a quick 2-0 lead. That lead would grow to eight at 12- 4 as Arion assisted on a bucket by senior Kayla Yates. The first period ended with a 12-6 score.

Arion opened the second quarter with a three pointer, followed quickly by another Schultz basket. With a 17-6 lead early in the second the Oracles had as large a lead as they possibly did at any time last season. Guerin scored six points to trail by five, 17-12, before Arion hit another trey to stop the Guerin run. The halftime score was 24-14. Schultz and Arion had scored six and nine points, respectively.

The third period was much like the others with senior Erika Hawn scoring five points to help the Oracles double up on the Golden Eagles, 32-16. Junior Hannah Strasser scored first for Delphi in the final period. After a Guerin score Hawn would hit two quick buckets, one of them a three to put the game away. With six minutes left the Oracles led 39- 20 on their way to the 45-32 victory.

Scoring for the Oracles were Arion with 12, Hawn 11, Strasser 9, Schultz 6, Kylee German 3, Kayla Yates and Kristina Barnard, 2 each.

The game against Pioneer would be more of a challenge. Delphi, with only three girls listed over 5'6" and none over 5'9" and Guerin being about the same size, the Oracles were out-rebounded the previous evening, 32-26.

Coach Dawson said that the Oracles were going to have to find ways of compensating for their lack of size. With Pioneer starting a taller lineup, the Oracles hustled and came away winners in the rebound battle 33-29 to help them earn the win.

The Panthers led early 8-2 before the Oracles finally started to find themselves offensively. Two baskets by Yates late in the first quarter cut the lead to four. After one period Pioneer led 10-6.

Two free throws, one by German and one by Hawn tied the game at 10 before Pioneer went on a run to lead by five at 18-13 halfway through the second period.

Delphi teams in the past played almost exclusively a zone defense that would let teams get into runs that would bury the Oracles. This year's version plays a much more aggressive man-to-man that can put pressure on the ball handler and stop those huge runs. Delphi played good defense and made good decisions on offense to come within three points at the half, 22-19.

Four consecutive free throws and a basket, all by Hawn, gave the Oracles their first lead of the game, 25-22. Pioneer would have three chances to cut the lead without Delphi getting the ball on offense. Delphi was called for a foul. Pioneer shot and missed a free throw but got the rebound and was again fouled. As if watching an instant reply Pioneer missed the free throw and got the ball back on the rebound. This time Pioneer took advantage and scored a basket. At the end of three periods Pioneer led 28- 27.

Trailing 32-27 in the fourth, Hawn and Arion took over. First Arion hit three consecutive buckets, one of them a three pointer before fouling out with 2:18 left in the game. Trailing at this point 36-34 it was time for someone else to step up. With 2:00 on the clock Hawn hit one of a pair of free throws. Ten seconds later she came back with a three point shot to put Oracles ahead to stay, 38-37.

Pioneer had to play the last 1:02 of the game with four players with many of their players fouling out. This didn't guarantee a victory. Leading 41-39 with 0:07 left, Kayser hit one of two free throws. Pioneer had one chance to spot a trey to tie the score but the shot bounced off the backboard as time expired.

Hawn led all scorers with 22 points, hitting 15 of 18 free throws. Arion had seven, all in the fourth. Barnard and Yates each had 4, German had 3 and 1 each for Lake and Kayser.

The Oracle JV easily won both games, defeating Guerin Catholic 49-3 and Pioneer 33 to 19.