Lady Oracles end streak
By Todd Swank Contributing sportswriter

The Lady Oracles improved their record to 3-5 with a 41-31 win over Clinton Prairie in a Saturday afternoon contest. Their losing streak had reached five earlier in the week when they traveled to Twin Lakes to face the 6-0, top ten ranked Indians and limped home on the short end of a 77-21 score.

Against the Indians, there was little doubt who the winner was going to be. The only question was by how big the margin was going to be. All-state candidate Betsy Adams hit a three-pointer shortly after tipoff to set the tone. Delphi's first basket was a three by Erika Hawn, but by the time she hit hers, the Indians were ahead 11-0. TL would score the next 11 points to lead 22-3 at the end of first period.

Another 11-point string by TL to open the second quarter put Delphi in a 33-3 hole before a basket by Amanda Schultz stopped the deluge temporarily. Two buckets by Kayla Yates and a trey by Whitney Arion capped the scoring for the Oracles, who trailed at the half, 44-12. When the Oracles did get by the perimeter defenders they ran into 6'0" Emileah Manahan, who had several blocked shots to further discourage the Oracles.

A Hannah Strasser basket and a Yates free throw were all the points the Oracles could put on the board in the third period. TL finally called off the dogs, but by the time the final period started, the score stood at 68-15.

Emily Kayser scored all of the Oracles' points in the fourth on a pair of three point shots.

TL improves to 7-0 (1-0 conference) while Delphi falls to 3- 5 (0-2). The JV score was TL 28, Delphi 20.

Against Clinton Prairie

Clinton Prairie Coach Jason Haid has a lot of height with four girls at 5'10" or better. But with only two seniors and two juniors on the squad, they may have to wait until next year to utilize that advantage. The Oracles' experience came through in this game. CP led early but failed to defend the three-point line.

Hawn, who would hit 4 of 7 beyond the arc, hit her first trey of the night to start the Oracle offense. Delphi trailed at the end of one, 6-5. Strasser scored to put Delphi ahead early in the second. Another Hawn three made the score 10-6 a short time later. Seven turnovers in nine possessions kept the Oracles from extending the lead. The Oracle lead at the half was 11- 10.

After CP opened the third with a three pointer to take their final lead at 14-13, Hawn answered with her own trey to put Delphi ahead. A three by Whitney Arion and a pair of free throws by Hawn broke a 17 all tie midway through the third period. A breakaway by Yates ended the period. Delphi was ahead 24-18.

With a 31-23 lead with four minutes to go, the Oracles couldn't get too excited. They had a lead against Rennselaer in the final period but ended up losing. Coach Dan Dawson made sure that wouldn't happen again.

The teams traded baskets the remainder of the game. The Oracles, who hit five of 11 three point shots in the game, could have had another ten points or more. On several occasions the Oracles had steals and/or long passes for almost uncontested layups but missed.

The JV score was Delphi 32, Clinton Prairie 14.