Delta cruises into state quarterfinal

SIKESTON, Mo. -- With four seniors in the starting lineup, the Delta girls basketball team is playing with a sense of urgency.

It was on display in Tuesday's Class 1 sectional playoff game at Sikeston High School.

Delta, which lost in last year's sectional round, busted out to a 20-point first-quarter lead en route to an 83-31 victory over Naylor.

"We've been dreaming of this since third grade," said senior center Rebecca Below, who finished with a game-high 34 points. "This is our last chance."

Three of the Delta seniors combined for 66 points.

"All the way, that's our goal since we've been little," said senior guard Rebecca Cook, who hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter on her way to 14 points.

Senior Sarah Jo Cook added 18 points for Delta (25-2) and sophomore Sarah M. Cook finished with 10.

April Thomas led Naylor (8-16) with 12 points.

Delta, ranked second in the state, reeled off 19 straight points in the opening quarter, which ended with the Bobcats ahead 22-2.

The Bobcats met little resistance the rest of the way as they reserved a spot in Saturday's 2:45 p.m. quarterfinal game against Couch in West Plains, Mo.

Delta, which has won 12 straight games, led 45-8 at halftime and took a 62-16 lead into the fourth quarter.

It was the polar opposite of a close loss suffered to Couch in last year's playoff game on the same floor.

"It was little better feeling walking off the court this time than it was last year," Delta coach Randy White said. "It was kind of frustrating last year."

Rebecca Cook hit a 3-pointer on the Bobcats' first shot 15 seconds into the game and Delta never trailed. Thomas cut the lead to 3-2 in the opening minute, but the onslaught began with Sarah Jo Cook scoring inside to start the 19-0 run to finish the quarter.

"The kids came out and had intensity," White said. "That's the one thing we were concerned with, that we came out with intensity and didn't play flat."

It didn't bother White, whose team has posted some lopsided wins during the year, that the Bobcats didn't receive a better opening test.

"We don't care; we just want to win them this time of the year," White said. "We'll take ugly wins, good wins, whatever we can get. Play well and you lose and you still go home."