Delta girls run away on senior night, finish in-state regular season perfect

On an emotional evening of senior ceremonies, Delta girls basketball didn’t let its feelings get the most of it as the Bobcats steamrolled to a 102-31 victory against Advance on Thursday night.

With its perfect record in Missouri on the line in the regular-season finale, Delta piled on the points early to get Advance out of sorts and cruised to a lopsided win against the Hornets.

Their only loss of the season coming against one of Kentucky’s largest and most dominant programs in McCracken County, the Bobcats’ spotless in-state record shines brightly.

Delta coach David Heeb spoke fondly of the regular season, reflecting upon the long road the ‘Cats have taken to get to this point and entering the playoffs.

“I just always judge a team on, ‘Tell me who you beat,’ you know?” Heeb began.

“This team's beat some good teams, and that's where you draw your confidence from. We're about to see some really good teams.”

But the story of the night didn’t come from the final score, but what transpired early in Thursday’s matchup.

Bedecked with balloons and countless alumni from both recent and days of yore, Delta’s four seniors — Trinity Vandeven, Mya Gillespie, Presley Holweg and Addison Nichols — got some great support from the local community in their last home game.

The Bobcats’ four-deep senior class got the bulk of the playing time on Thursday, headlined by Delta’s opening two points from Trinity Vandeven, making her first appearance since early January.

“She’s one of the smartest players that I’ve ever coached,” Heeb quickly said of Vandeven.

After suffering a season-ending injury a month and a half ago, the veteran Bobcat wing sat sidelined for the late stretch of the season.

In a joint effort with Advance coach Ethan Barr, both Vandeven and Hornet star guard Maggie Stubenrauch traded buckets on the first possession of the game.

When it was planned out, everyone seemed so excited for the opportunity to witness the moment.

But, in real time, it made all the difference as the Delta crowd roared to life.

“When I called the timeout, and they come back to the bench, Presley [Holweg] was crying,” Heeb said.

“I don't think they understood how emotional it was going to be.”

Both teams came out the gate firing, but Delta quickly settled into a defensive groove and began to force Advance into some backcourt turnovers.

Paired with a 4-for-4 start from range for junior guard Jade Berry, Delta’s lead stretched to nearly 30 points after the first quarter.

Senior guard Addison Nichols quickly joined Berry in the 3-point party, knocking down a few triples of her own to rapidly quantify the Bobcats’ early lead.

That gash deepened to 64-20, with both teams rotating in their senior talent for reps in the senior night festivities.

Up 71 points with less than a minute left in the third quarter, Heeb made the call to extend the rotation, bringing out a mass substitution with a roaring round of applause from the Bobcat faithful.

The fourth saw some traded punches inside, but the turbo clock sped away en route to a 102-31 victory for hosting Delta to finish the regular season perfect within state borders.

The Bobcats next partake in the Class 1 District 1 Tournament, beginning next Monday as the hosting Scott County Central Braves and Crossroads College Prep do battle in the four-versus-five game.

The winner will take on top-seeded Delta on Wednesday night, with the winner of that contest moving into the district championship game.

For Delta, the road to a state title is just beginning, and that road is one that Heeb and Company will take in stride.