DELTA SEEKS NEW TERRITORY; SCC WANTS OLD

Tonight's Class 1A quarterfinal games in Cabool will feature boys teams that are looking to break through and girls teams that are looking to reach familiar territory.

Action gets under way at 6:30 p.m. when Scott County Central's girls take on Norwood. Delta's boys will face Fordland at about 8. The winners earn berths in next weekend's Class 1A Final Four in Columbia.

Either Delta (22-7) or Fordland (20-7) will make school history tonight. That's because neither squad has ever qualified for the final four.

"It's an exciting time for the school and the community," said Delta coach Nate Crowden. "We've just tried to take it one game at a time and now we're just one game away (from the final four)."

Fordland, which is located about 18 miles east of Springfield, feels the same way.

"We've never been this far before, so everybody is pretty excited," said assistant coach William Feeback. "It's a pretty big thing for the school and the community."

Under second-year head coach Andy Underwood, the Eagles have quickly built a solid program. They went 20-5 last year before losing in the district finals and, with virtually all the key players back from that team, expectations were high for this season.

"We anticipated a pretty decent season this year," said Feeback. "We've lost a lot of close games or our record could be even better."

Like Fordland, Delta also had a strong season last year, going 18-11 and losing in the district finals. With several key players back from that team, the Bobcats expected to be strong as well.

"The guys have worked real hard," said Crowden. "I'm most proud of the way we've played defense this year. That's probably been the key to our team."

Fordland's balanced attack is led by a pair of post players, 6-foot-2 senior Darryl Archer and 6-5 junior Cody Myler, who average about 13 and 11 points per game, respectively. Justin Kensinger, a 5-9 junior guard, contributes around 10 points per contest.

"We're a pretty balanced team," Feeback said. "We don't really have a go-to guy."

Delta has a pair of go-to guys in 6-2 senior forward Garrett DeBrock (22 ppg) and 5-10 senior guard Shawn Kinder (19 ppg).

DeBrock has scored 54 points in this week's two playoff games, including 29 during Wednesday's 73-51 sectional romp past Ste. Genevieve Valle. Kinder has 41 points this week, including 16 against Valle.

But while DeBrock and Kinder have been Delta's main scorers all season, the Bobcats have benefited greatly in recent weeks by a strong supporting cast featuring the likes of Andy Blattel, Greg Voelker and others. Blattel is averaging 14 points per game to support the work of DeBrock and Kinder.

"I think that's been a real key for us," Crowden said. "Garrett and Shawn have done it all year. They're very good players. But lately we've gotten really good play from a lot of other people, which is what you have to have at this time of the year."

While the boys teams from Delta and Fordland are strangers to the final four, that is not the case with the girls squads from Scott County Central and Norwood.

Scott Central (17-11) has qualified for the state's final four 13 times -- all since 1980 -- and come away with seven state championships. Norwood (23-5) has been to the final four twice in the past four seasons, winning state in 1994.

For Scott Central coach Semona Penrod and her Bravettes, a win tonight would break a mini-drought as far as the final four is concerned. The Bravettes last qualified during the 1994-95 season, when they finished second.

"We haven't been in a couple of years, so it would be nice to get there this time," said Penrod.

To do that, the Bravettes will have to knock off a talented Norwood squad that is led by Lacey Shelton and Tracy Cole, who both average nearly 20 points per game.

But Scott Central has plenty of talent of its own, including sophomore Vontrice Blackmon, a quick 5-2 guard who averages almost 20 points per contest.

Ashley Whitson, a 5-9 junior forward, and 5-7 sophomore forward Lakeya Turner both contribute about 14 points a game for the Bravettes.