Bobcats bounce back in third-place game

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The future looks bright for Delta's girls basketball team, with everyone expected back from a state final four squad.

The Bobcats (28-2) did not come to Mizzou Arena dreaming about what they can do next year, though.

And while Delta failed to bring home the program's first state title, the Bobcats capped their weekend with a 42-37 comeback win over Silex on Saturday in the third-place game.

"First of all, we enjoyed this one a lot more than the first one," Delta coach Randy White said. "I thought we played much better, a lot more composed today."

With a win in hand and a full roster back, it was not hard to look ahead.

"The big thing, it showed what our potential is," White said. "I'm not sure if getting here one time helps you much or not. The one thing getting here does show you is what your potential is for the upcoming year. We're definitely not going to be complacent."

Added junior guard Tiffany Amelunke: "We all have to spend a lot of time in the gym all summer and in the offseason. We just have to keep working together, and hopefully it will pay off."

If the Bobcats' effort in the second half on Saturday is any indication, they could be in for some big things next season. Delta struggled in the opening half for the second straight game, falling behind 23-17. Less than 3 minutes into the third, Delta was down 30-20.

Over the next 5 minutes Delta's defense resurfaced, holding Silex (23-8) to just one basket for the rest of the quarter. Three-pointers from sisters Kaci and Jodi Menz sparked Delta's 8-0 run. Jodi Menz's layup with 1:41 remaining in the third cut the lead to 30-28.

"I just kept reiterating [at halftime] that we wanted to push the ball up the floor," White said. "We're a much better team when we push the ball. The first half, we did not do that consistently."

Kaci Menz tied the game with 6:10 remaining after a steal by Ashley Deprow, and Tiffany Amelunke's basket gave the Bobcats the lead for good at 34-33 with 5:27 to play. The lead was Delta's first since the opening minutes of the game, and only its second of the weekend to that point.

Delta's defense again stiffened in the fourth quarter, holding Silex without a basket for more than 3 minutes. After the Owls' Ashley Fleming scored to narrow the gap to 36-35, Delta's clutch free throw shooting sealed the win.

After making seven of 14 over the first three quarters, Delta hit all eight of its free throw attempts in the final period. Shea Smith was 6-for-6 from the line, 4-for-4 in the final period. Delta's last three trips to the line were all one-and-one opportunities, and the Bobcats converted each time.

"We practice them a lot," Amelunke said. "It makes a big difference."

Silex trailed 40-37 after Smith's free throws with 34.8 seconds remaining. Silex's Rebecca Hopkins missed a 3-pointer -- the Owls' 31st 3-point attempt of the game -- and Jodi Menz grabbed the rebound. She passed to Kaci Menz, who was fouled and made two free throws with 7.2 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

Delta held Silex to 23.2 percent from the field, including just 4-for-32 from 3-point range.

"These girls did a good job defending that," White said.

Silex sophomore Fleming, who came into the game averaging 24 points per game, was held to 15. Fleming added 13 rebounds. Rebecca Lipsey added 12 points for Silex.

"We rely heavily on our offense, we're a good shooting basketball team," Silex coach Robert James said. "Today, we weren't able to shoot effectively."

Kaci Menz led the Bobcats with 16 points. Smith added eight points.

Jodi Menz, a freshman, added seven points and a team-high 14 rebounds. She had eight rebounds in the second half.

"Jodi, being a freshman, at times has stayed in the background a little bit," White said. "I don't know if it's had to do with her adapting, but she has a tremendous amount of potential and at spurts [today] she showed that potential."

This was the first final four appearance for the Bobcats since finishing third in 2003. Delta has won six straight district titles, but this was the first final four experience for the current group of Delta players.

"You have to play with composure," Deprow said. "You can't let distractions bother you. We wanted first, but we didn't play good Thursday."

Leeton, which handled Delta on Thursday, lost 51-39 to DeKalb in the state title game.

DELTA 42, SILEX 37

Silex 12 11 9 5 -- 37

Delta 9 8 11 14 -- 42

SILEX (37) -- Rebecca Lipsey 12, Brandy Benfield 3, Ashley Fleming 15, Heather Miller 2, Rebecca Hopkins 2, Lonni Miller 1, Laura Hopkins 2. FG 13, FT 7-15, F 17 (3-pointers: Lipsey 3, Fleming 1. Fouled out: none)

DELTA (42) -- Tiffany Amelunke 4, Shea Smith 8, Ashley Deprow 5, Jodi Menz 7, Kaci Menz 16, Sara Keys 2. FG 12, FT 15-22, F 14 (3-pointers: Kaci Menz 2, Jodi Menz 1)