Delta wins big, but Kelly shows fight

BENTON, Mo. — Class 1 juggernaut Delta cruised to a comfortable 68-34 win at Kelly on Monday, Feb. 12. 

“We didn’t shoot it well, but I thought our defense and rebounding was phenomenal tonight,” said Delta coach David Heeb. “That’s been the case for the past month, and one of these nights we’re going to do all of those things and shoot well. I think when that happens we could probably beat the Lakers.”

The No. 2 ranked Ladycats (23-1) started strong, building a commanding 17-0 lead. The Lady Hawks (13-11) showed some resistance in the second quarter, evening winning it 12-11 until Delta’s Presley Holweg hit a floater to beat the buzzer and make it 37-15 at halftime. 

Delta's Addison Nichols (3) drives during a 68-34 at Kelly on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“The effort was incredible for both teams,” Heeb said. “Against a team that came to play and gave us their best shot, our kids had to battle through some adversity and that is what it is all about this time of the year. I’m proud of my kids for how hard we played and I’m proud of Kelly for how hard they played against us.

“That’s why I respect coach Blissett so much, nine out of 10 teams we do that to quit,” he continued. “Then everyone is mad at us because we won by so much, but a lot of times it’s that the other team quits playing. Kelly never quit playing and it was a competitive game for the rest of the night. I’m the president of Matthew Blisset fan club. If I had the chance, I would hire him tomorrow. I’m probably his biggest fan in the world. He’s an outstanding person and an outstanding basketball coach. He has them playing very well.”

Delta controlled the second half, increasing its lead steadily. While the final score reflects a lopsided contest, both teams demonstrated hustle and effort throughout. 

Kelly's Jada Griggs (21) takes an elbow as she goes up for a shot during a 68-34 loss to Delta on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Ava LeGrand led Kelly with 11 points, showcasing a fighting spirit despite the tough matchup.

“The team handled the pressure well,” said Kelly coach Matthew Blissett. “Delta is awesome to have on the schedule because every time you play them you get better. They play hard, make you want to play harder and are a very class-act program.

“We had spurts of great defense,” Blissett continued. “I’ve seen a lot of growth from Macy Burger. Without her, this game looks completely different. Her ability to handle pressure has been a game-changer and we’ll be every bit of that during districts.”

Delta's Mya Gillespie (24) scores during a 68-34 at Kelly on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

For the Ladycats, the scoring spotlight shone on Presley Holweg and Addison Nichols, each tallying 23 points, while Mya Gillespie chipped in with 11.

Kelly travels to Portageville (19-4) while Delta hosts Principia (17-6) on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

__DELTA 68, KELLY 34__

Delta 24 13 22 9 — 68

Kelly 3 12 11 6 — 34

Delta (68) —Presley Holweg 23, Addison Nichols 23, Mya Gillespie 11, Jade Berry 7, Grace Ancell 2, Lillian Boitnott 2. FG: 29. FT: 3-12. F: 11. (3-pointers: Nichols 4, Holweg 2, Berry 1. Fouled out:

Kelly (34) — Ava LeGrand 11, Kristin Grogan 8, Jada Griggs 5, Gwen Essner 3, Brooke Dirnberger 2, Paige Klipfel 2, Kayleigh Holman 1. FG: 11. FT: 5-12. F: 11. (3-pointers: Grogan 2, Essner 1. Fouled out: None.)