Delta overcomes slow start to rout Cape Central

The Delta Bobcats used a big second quarter on the way to a 64-26 win over the Cape Central Tigers on Sunday.

After a sloppy first quarter by Delta’s standards, the Bobcats engaged defensively to win the second quarter 18-6 to hold a 34-10 lead entering the locker room at halftime.

“I thought we played really hard,” Bobcats coach David Heeb said. “I also thought that Cape played hard. They’re young but they have some good athletes and they made things difficult for us.”

Perhaps the biggest catalyst in the surge for Delta was senior Addison Nichols who poured in 8 of her 15 points in the frame.

“She was the one that got it going first today,” Heeb said. “The thing about our group is they’re really close and tight knit so when we were struggling they were getting on each other in a good way. They’re very encouraging.”

On the opposing end, the Tigers were hindered by their leading scorer Emani Summers picking up her third foul in the quarter.

Out of the locker room, neither team was able to go on any extended runs as the Delta lead got to as many as 34 as the Bobcats led 56-22 after the third quarter.

Delta cruised down the stretch of the fourth quarter on the way to their semifinal berth.

Offensively, Delta was led by Presley Holweg and Mya Gillespie who had 16 points each in the win.

Following Holweg and Gillespie was Nichols who had 15 and Grace Ancell and Trinity Vandeven with 4 points each.

Cape Central’s offense was led by Summers who had 15 points in the loss.

Cape Central (4-4) will return to action in the First State Community Bank Holiday Classic against Kelly at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Show Me Center.

Delta (7-0) advances to the semifinals where the Bobcats will battle St. Vincent at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18. at the Show Me Center.

“Hopefully we got our ugly game out of the way,” Heeb said. “No matter who we play the next few games it’s going to be tough.”