Delta girls storm past SCC, claim district title

DELTA, Mo. -- The Delta girls basketball team had a slow start against Scott County Central when the squads met last week.

There was absolutely nothing slow about the Bobcats' start Thursday night.

Host Delta lived up to its billing as the overwhelming favorite in the two-team Class 1 District 3 tournament with an 85-36 rout of the Braves.

The Bobcats (18-8) will make their ninth straight playoff appearance when they face the District 4 winner in Tuesday's sectional round at Park Hills Central High School.

"We want to win state," said senior point guard Taylor Smith, who was part of last year's Delta squad that had a 13-point second-half in the quarterfinals but lost. "What team wouldn't, but I think we can make it happen."

Delta's Taylor Smith shoots against Scott County Central during the second quarter of the Class 1 District 3 championship game Thursday in Delta, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

Delta made it happen against SCC (1-10), which has a tradition-rich program but has fallen on hard times lately and did not have enough players to field a team last season.

The Braves still pushed Delta just a week earlier, trailing by only seven points at halftime before the Bobcats pulled away in the second half to win comfortably.

"We played 'em last Thursday and we came out a little slow," Smith said. "We've been pumped up. We knew what we had to do."

Delta blitzed the undermanned Braves from the outset, scoring the first 10 points and leading 17-4 three minutes into the game.

The Bobcats scorched the nets for seven 3-pointers in the opening period as they opened a 37-10 bulge heading into the second quarter.

When the Bobcats weren't bombing shots from the outside, their pressure defense was creating plenty of fast-break opportunities as Delta forced 10 first-quarter turnovers.

"We talked about wanting to set the tone real quick," Delta coach Mark Verticchio said. "We shot the ball well. When we shoot the ball we're a different team, but I guess every coach can say that."

Freshman guard/forward Machela VanGennip came out on fire with 15 first-quarter points. She hit three 3-pointers.

Smith and junior guard Samantha Bartels both nailed a pair of 3-pointers in the opening period on their way to eight points apiece in the opening eight minutes.

"If we play like we did tonight, I think we can go a long way," VanGennip said.

After that first-quarter blitz, Verticchio was able to play his bench extensively the remainder of the way as the starters got plenty of time off.

It was 57-18 at halftime and 75-28 after three quarters as the entire final period was played with a running clock used when there is a lead of at least 30 points.

"We had some girls play well off the bench," Verticchio said, noting the 10 points by senior Courtney Burton, along with the nine rebounds apiece by senior Ashley Glaus and sophomore Lyndse Hamby.

Smith had 15 points by halftime to match VanGennip. They both finished with 17 points as Smith equaled her season average and VanGennip bettered hers by a point.

"Taylor does it all for us. She's a scoring point guard," Verticchio said. "Machela also had a real good game. She's going to be a very good player."

Although VanGennip has had higher scoring performances during her freshman season, she said: "I feel like I had one of my better games."

Bartels finished with 14 points as she hit four of Delta's 11 3-pointers.

"She has struggled with her shot but tonight she shot the ball well. I'm happy for her," Verticchio said.

Sophomore forward Tori Burton added nine points for Delta, which saw 10 players hit the scoring column.

Despite such a lopsided win, the Bobcats thought it was beneficial to at least play a game in the district tournament after receiving an automatic title last year as the only girls team in the district.

"It was a lot nicer," Smith said. "We didn't have to go as many days off without a game."

Senior forward Markita Mosley paced the Braves with 16 points.

"They're rebuilding, but she [coach Semona Penrod] is doing a nice job," Verticchio said.

SCC 10 8 10 8 -- 36

Delta 37 20 18 10 -- 85

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (36) -- Katie Ruedrich 8, Denise McClinton 6, Dazique Gillespie 6, Markita Mosley 16. FG 16, FT 2-5, F 9. (3-pointers: Gillespie 2. Fouled out: none)

DELTA (85) -- Ashley Glaus 4, Taylor Smith 17, Lyndse Hamby 4, Kendra Burnett 4, Katie Brucker 2, Machela VanGennip 17, Macey Parks 4, Tori Burton 9, Samantha Bartels 14, Courtney Burton 10. FG 33, FT 8-10, F 10. (3-pointers: Smith 2, VanGennip 3, Bartels 4, C. Burton 2. Fouled out: none)