Delta girls reach quarterfinals for second straight year

~ The Bobcats posted a 53-41 victory over Scott County Central.

Delta junior Shea Smith hit 13 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter and had 17 points in all during the final period to lead the Bobcats to a 53-41 win over Scott County Central on Tuesday in a Class 1 girls sectional at Central Junior High.

Smith finished with a game-high 26 points for Delta, which improved to 26-1. Delta will play Chadwick on Saturday in West Plains in the quarterfinal round.

"Shea is a tremendous free throw shooter," Delta coach Randy White said. "In the late going, if we can get the ball in her hands, she's going to get to the free throw line. And we know she can score."

This was the third meeting between the two teams this season, and the third straight season the teams have met in the sectional round. Delta improved to 3-0 against the Bravettes (12-11) this season, and 2-1 in sectional games.

"The good part is we don't have to see them again this year," White said.

Despite numerous turnovers, Scott County was able to stay with the Bobcats through the first three quarters of the game. Scott County tied the score at 30-30 in the final minute of the third, and still trailed just 43-39 early in the final period.

The Bravettes simply could not get their offense going, though, and could not keep from putting Smith on the line. Delta outscored Scott County 10-2 during the final stretch of the game.

"We just never were smooth," Scott County coach Semona Penrod said. "We'd have a run, but we didn't have enough runs. We just made so many senseless turnovers."

After routing Scott County at the Scott-Mississippi Tournament in January, Delta needed overtime to beat Scott County in the regular-season finale for both teams. That confidence seemed to carry over for the Bravettes.

Delta was able to keep the pesky Bravettes behind, thanks in part to the play of its reserves. While the Bobcats used just six players for much of the season, sophomore Sarah Keys made her presence felt on Tuesday.

Keys, who played on a 21-1 junior varsity team during the regular season, scored eight points for Delta and received significant playing time in the fourth quarter.

"There's several girls that play smart basketball in that group, and she's one of them," White said. "She came in and really picked us up. I was really impressed with the way she played."

Kaci Menz added eight points for the Bobcats, and Ashley Deprow had seven. Delta shot 17-for-20 from the line.

"We normally shoot free throws pretty well," White said. "It seemed we got to the line early in the second half, which was a big plus."

Brittney Peet led Scott County with 19 points, but fouled out late in the contest. Samantha Jones added 11 points.

"It was not any one factor," Penrod said of the loss. "A lot of people were in places they weren't supposed to be. It seemed anything that could go wrong went wrong. Delta had a lot to do with that."

Delta 53, Scott County Central 41

Delta 9 10 14 20 -- 53

Scott County 6 7 17 11 -- 41

DELTA (53) -- Shea Smith 26, Sarah Keys 8, Kaci Menz 8, Ashley Deprow 7, Jodi Menz 4. FG 17, FT 17-20, F 16 (3-pointers: Keys 1, Smith 1. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY (41) -- Brittney Peet 19, Samantha Jones 11, Jamisha Williams 6, Lekeisha Turner 2, Amanda Lawless 2, Brianna Johnson 1. FG 16, FT 7-12, F 18 (3-pointers: Peet 1, Jones 1. Fouled out: Peet)