Bobcats have pieces for longer playoff run this season

Delta was, for lack of a better word, reloading in the 2003-04 season.

The Bobcats had graduated four starters from the team that finished third in the state in Class 1 the year before.

The reloading went well. The Bobcats won a district championship to earn a return berth to the state playoffs during a 19-6 season. Delta lost to Scott County Central in the sectional round.

With the three returning starters back this year, the Bobcats have the makings of a unit that can make another long run in the playoffs.

"We have had several good practices so far this year," coach Randy White said, "and a lot of times, you can't say that.

"A number of our kids got in a lot of basketball this summer. The kids are working hard."

Still, White said the Bobcats have to do some work to be the caliber of team that can make another run to the final four.

"We've got to continue to work on our ballhandling, like everyone does, to handle the pressure defense," White said. "Defensively, we have to be able to contain the basketball."

Opponents will have to contain Delta's trio of senior forward Sarah Cook and sophomore guards Shea Smith and Kaci Menz. All three averaged in double figures last year.

Smith, who stands 5 feet 7 inches, led the team with 13.8 points per game in her freshman campaign and was third in rebounding at 4.1 per game. She also was second on the team in assists.

Cook and Menz each chipped in 11.4 points per game. Cook, 5-8 and a standout softball player, was second in rebounding at 5.0 per game. Menz, 5-5 and a standout rodeo athlete, led the team in assists.

White has some options for the rest of his front line, including 5-9 junior Rachel Ware, who was a starter on the junior varsity team last year; 5-9 freshman Ashley Deprow, who was part of Delta's 30-0 junior high team last year; and 5-9 junior Kacie Seabaugh, another JV starter from last year.

"We have some kids who started on JV who definitely will see playing time," White said, "and Deprow has had some good practices also."

The status of Kayla Seabaugh, a 5-10 sophomore post player who was in 14 varsity games last year, was in question pending arthroscopic surgery on her knee in early November.

Senior Krystal Burnett brings experience from last season, when she played in 20 games, while sophomores Tiffany Amelunke and Rachel Lincoln also look to have an impact this season.

"We were awful young last year, but it didn't go too bad," White said. "We're looking forward to this season. We think it'll be exciting for us."

The excitement begins tonight against St. Vincent.