DELTA, SCOTT COUNTY EYE REGIONAL BATTLES

Delta's boys will be venturing into unfamiliar territory tonight while it will simply be business as usual for Scott County Central's girls.

That's the situation for those two area basketball teams regarding Class 1A Regional matchups at the Sikeston High Field House.

Scott Central's girls will take on Naylor at 6:30, with Delta's boys facing Holcomb at about 8.

Tonight's winners move on to 1A Sectional games Wednesday night in Poplar Bluff while the losers are through for the season.

Delta's boys will carry a 20-7 record into tonight's game. The Bobcats won their first district title since 1976 when they beat perennial power Scott Central 81-66 Thursday night.

"It's an exciting time for everybody," said Delta coach Nate Crowden, who played on the Bobcats' last district championship team more than 20 years ago. "We've had a lot of support all year from our community. It's just a great thing for our community and they're getting behind us and trying to see how far they can help take us."

Seniors Garrett DeBrock and Shawn Kinder have carried the Bobcats offensively much of the season, but lately Delta has also been getting considerable offensive support from the likes of Greg Voelker and Andy Blattel.

In the district championship game, DeBrock and Voelker both scored 22 points while Blattel had 20 and Kinder 11.

For the season, DeBrock -- a 6-2 senior -- is averaging about 21 point per game while Kinder, a 5-10 senior, averages about 19 points a contest.

"The last three, four games we've gotten everybody involved and that's made a big difference for us," Crowden said. "Garrett and Shawn have stayed real steady and Greg and Andy have really picked it up."

While Delta, despite having not won a district title in more than 20 years, was favored to make it this far, Holcomb is certainly a surprise.

The Hornets (15-11) were only seeded fifth in their district, but first they stunned top-seeded and defending champion Clarkton, then upended Gideon 77-75 in double overtime in Friday night's finals.

A pair of 6-3 players, B.J. Stone and Steven Spane, have led the Hornets, who only finished fourth in the Tri-County Conference. Stone poured in 33 points in the district final.

"Holcomb looks pretty good," said Crowden, who scouted the Hornets' win over Gideon. "They've got a couple of big kids and a pretty good guard who runs the show."

Crowden is confident his Bobcats will fare well, but he knows they can't overlook the Hornets.

"If we play like we have been playing lately, I think we'll be okay," he said. "But Holcomb is a good team. We can't overlook anybody."

In contrast to Delta's boys, Scott Central's girls are certainly used to playing in the regional round. The Bravettes, 15-11, have won at least 13 straight district titles.

The Bravettes, one of the state's most tradition-rich small-school teams, have won seven state titles and reached the state's final four 13 times, the last coming in 1995, when they finished second.

Tonight's girls game will be a rematch of last year's regional contest, won by Scott Central 67-60. The Bravettes then went on to lose to Bunker in the sectional round. Naylor has a 12-10 record.