The Lady Oracles played two road games last week and went 0-2, first losing a rematch against the Tri- County Cavaliers, 48-40, and following that with their fourth loss in a row against West Lafayette, 44-23. The reeling Oracles hope to regain their winning formula with three games this week before the sectional starts next Tuesday at Fountain Central.

After losing the championship game of the White County Tourney to Tri- County ten days earlier by ten points (41-31), Delphi had hoped to be ready for the now familiar Cavaliers. Tri- County thought the same thing as Megan Dixon scored 20 points to lead the way to a 48-40 win.

The Oracles led 4-0 early but two offensive rebounds by TC resulted in Dixon getting a put back to give the Cavaliers the lead six minutes into the game. Delphi went nearly five minutes without scoring while TC built an 8-4 advantage. Dani Burge finally scored for the Oracles to stop the drought just before the end of the quarter.

Whitney Arion hit two free throws to open the second quarter, tying the game at eight. Dixon then hit a long shot that gave the Cavaliers a lead they would never relinquish. She hit two more buckets in a row as TC built a 17-12 lead. In the last minute Arion and Randee Schultz scored two points each to keep the Oracles close (21- 16) at the half.

With their backs against the wall the Oracles needed to come out and take control to open the third, but it was the Cavaliers who dictated the action. TC stretched the lead to 28-16 in less than three minutes. Arion started the scoring for Delphi with an old-fashioned three-point play. That play started a run for Delphi that didn’t stop until Dixon hit for TC three minutes later. During the nine-point run that brought Delphi within three at 28-25, the Oracles misfired on four of six free throws and at least two layups. So instead of trailing 30-25 after Dixon’s basket the Oracles could have held an advantage. Going to the final period the Oracles were behind by seven at 34- 27 and would get no closer than six points.

Vs. West Lafayette

West Lafayette’s Lady Red Devils took control early and never looked back in their 44-23 trouncing of Delphi. The Oracles could have used some of the intensity being displayed just down the road at Purdue’s Mackey Arena that night to slow down the Red Devils.

Only a Summer Sutton free throw kept the Oracles from being skunked the first five minutes of the game as WL built an 11-1 margin. Arion finally made a field goal with just under three minutes to play in the first quarter. Trailing 14-3 entering the second quarter, Arion drove to the basket on consecutive possessions to score for the Oracles. WL quickly called a timeout to talk. Arion would only score three more points the rest of the game. The Red Devils were all watching Arion out of the corner of their eyes and dropped off their man to help stop the dribble drive. WL’s team quickness allowed them to help on Arion but still harass the rest of the team into five of 21 shooting. Brittany Rhodes would be the Oracle to make the first basket in over five minutes of play before the half. WL had a comfortable 22-11 lead.

The third period ended with the Oracles trailing 36- 15. Jordayn Jargstorf and Sutton each sank a field goal. The Oracles played the Red Devils even the final period at eight points each, but by then the game was decided.

Delphi falls to 9-8 for the year with a 1-2 conference record.

The JV squad did not fare much better, losing to Tri- County 21-18 and to West Lafayette 46-31.