Kelsey Williams of Pioneer put up a three-point shot as the buzzer sounded to end the Lady Oracles' first game of the season. Fortunately the ball bounced off the back of the rim, preserving a 64- 61 overtime win for Delphi.

Despite racing out to leads of 19-7 after one period and 34-17 at the half, the Oracles failed to keep the momentum going after halftime and had to come-from-behind in the last three minutes to get into overtime.

Whitney Arion opened scoring with a 3-point basket. Chanler Norman sank two quick buckets, followed by a basket by Danni Burge. A pair of free throws by Hannah Strasser made the score 11-3 midway through the opening quarter. The Oracles stayed hot by hitting 7 of 11 field goals and 3 of 4 free throws in opening a 12-point lead, 19-7, after one period.

Arion opened the second quarter with a trey. The lead expanded to 17 at 24-7 after two FTs by Jordayn Jargstorf. Time-after-time the Oracles broke through the Pioneer full court press to get behind the defense and get some layups or uncontested short jumpers. The problem was that the shooting went cold and even the easy shots would not fall for the Oracles.

Delphi could only get five of 12 second period shots to go in. Despite poor shooting the Oracle defense played well throughout the half. That defensive pressure forced 12 Pioneer turnovers that allowed the Oracles to double up the score at 34-17 at the half.

Leading by 18 at 43-25 at the four minute mark of the third quarter, Oracle fans had to think that the game was in the bag. But what had worked in the first 20 minutes of the game quit working. The Oracle defense loosened up and allowed the Panthers to score and the offense suddenly could not get through that full court press for easy shots. Delphi would only score three more points in the last four minutes of the third while the Panthers scored nine. Even though the Oracles still had a 46-34 lead, the Delphi faithful began to squirm.

It took less than four minutes for the Oracles to stop squirming in the final period. Katy Fox of Pioneer made one of two free throws with 4:13 left in the game. The home crowd was on the edge of their seats, because that FT had allowed the Panthers to come all the way back and tie the score at 48. Pioneer took its first lead less than a minute later on another free throw. Delphi led 52-51 on a free throw by Strasser with 45 seconds left. Pioneer would sink 3 of 4 free throws in the final seconds and lead 54-52 when Arion came to the line for a pair of free throws with just seconds showing on the clock. The Oracles had sunk just 3 of 9 FTs in the fourth period including just 1 of 6 in the last 2:23. After swishing the first point the Oracles needed Arion to make the second to go into overtime. Although her shot was a little long it bounced straight up and came back down through the net.

Pioneer opened the OT with a three pointer, but the Oracles who had opened the game had returned. They scored 10 of the next 11 points to lead 64-58 with 43 seconds left. That lead wasn't safe though. After the Oracles missed two FTs with 11 seconds showing, the Panthers had an open three point shot. The shot was on line but long. Time expired.

Overall this team seems quicker than last year's version which won five games. Hopefully utilizing that to their advantage will earn them a few more wins. One is in the bag already.