Balanced scoring propels Oracles
Myers leads with 22
By John J. Dunn Contributing sportswriter

Dead eye Delphi's Michael Myers nails a 3-pointer after receiving an assist from Matt Lewis (No. 21). A balanced scoring attack by the Oracles helped them defeat visiting Pioneer 69-54 last Friday night. Bill Stauffer photo

Ah, there's something to be said about getting a win in your final game before Christmas break.

Sort of makes you feel like all is right again, and that you've received an early Christmas present, with a full two weeks to savor it before facing your next opponent.

Whether it was the holiday spirit in the air, the excitement and comfort that comes from a fourth straight game at home or an improving Delphi team that was on display, head coach Brian Tonsoni just hopes that he sees some of the same things after the break that he saw during Friday night's 69-54 drubbing over visiting Pioneer.

The Oracles featured a balanced scoring attack ¯placing four in double-figures, and shot an amazing .609 percent from the field (25-of-41), including .556 (10-of-18) from three-point range, both easily season-highs.

Furthermore, Delphi (2-5) played perhaps its best floor game posting a season-high 19 assists and tying a season-low with only nine turnovers (last vs. Benton Central on Dec. 7).

The Panthers' first basket of the game, a three-pointer with 6:40 to play in the first quarter, would be their only lead as the Oracles took control early and led most of the way for the second game-in-a-row.

Delphi's Matt Lewis hit a three-point goal with 4:30 left in the first period to break the last tie of the game at 7-7, although the game remained close at 18- 15 at the end of the first stanza.

The Oracles extended the lead to 12 points at 34-22 in the second quarter after an 8-0 run on back-to-back three-pointers from Austin Hawn and a hoop from Michael Myers, forcing a Panther timeout with 2:01 remaining, before settling for a 35-26 lead at the intermission.

An 8-1 Pioneer run in the third period allowed the Panthers to close to within five points at 42-37 with 2:07 left. Another three from Lewis thwarted the rally and helped Delphi take a 47-40 lead at the end of three.

The Oracles scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter on consecutive baskets from Hawn and Dustin Oliver, followed by Lewis' third trey of the game to force another Panther timeout with 5:44 remaining and a commanding 15-point lead.

Pioneer (0-7) would get no closer than 11 at 56-45 with 3:48 left. Delphi would again hit its free throws down the stretch, going 5-of-6 from the line in the final two minutes to preserve the 15-point margin of victory.

"We shot the ball extremely well," Tonsoni said. "I also felt like our spacing and ball movement was much better offensively."

"Defensively, I really think that we gave them some tough looks at the basket in our matchup scheme, which we have been executing very well of late," he said.

Myers led all scorers with 22 points and a game-high five rebounds, while Hawn added 14 points, including 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Lewis was next with 13 points followed by Kyle Bender's 10.

Oliver finished with nine points and a game-high five assists, and Paul Zink rounded out the scoring with a free throw in the waning seconds.

The victory was the secondin a-row for the Oracles, the first time they have accomplished such a feat in almost two full seasons - dating to the 2005- 06 campaign following consecutive wins over North White (68-42 in the White County Tournament consolation game on Jan. 14) and against Sheridan (69-64 on Jan. 20).

It also marked Delphi's fifth straight win over Pioneer, a team that has not defeated the Oracles since a 48-38 victory on their home court in 2003.

The task does not get any easier after the break though, as the Oracles will travel to Northwestern on Jan. 4 to face the Class 2A defending State Champions, currently 6-0 and ranked #2 in the latest Class 3A poll.

JV improves to 5-2

Delphi's red-hot shooting display was not just for the varsity game as the junior varsity got things started by shooting a torrid .677 from the field (21-of- 31) during its 62-53 win over Pioneer.

Tanner Cripe led all scorers with a season-high 17 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the charity-stripe, while Dustin Salyer added 14 points and a team-high six boards. A.J. Erskin was the only other Oracle in double-figures with 13 points, including 4-of-4 from the field.

Paul Zink added eight points, Kris Bender scored six, and Seferino Cervantes and Jo Britt had two apiece.

After the holidays, Delphi will face Northwestern on Jan. 4 with the JV starting at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to Rossville on Jan. 5 with the JV tip-off at 6.