Gray, Steil lead Hornets past Delta

Grant Gray and Luke Steil overwhelmed the Delta Bobcats in the opening round of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The duo outscored the Bobcats (3-5) themselves as fifth-seeded Advance rolled past No. 12 seeded Delta 71-36 on Saturday.

"They played a good fundamental game," Delta coach Justin Simpher said of the Hornets. "That's the kind of team they are. They play good defense and take care of the ball on offense."

Delta hung with the Hornets (6-1) for the majority of the first quarter.

Chase Crowden hit a runner in the lane to draw Delta within 11-10, but the Hornets answered.

Delta's Teddy May drives against Advance's Luke Steil during the third quarter Saturday at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

And strongly.

Advance rattled off nine straight points to end the first quarter and take a 22-10 lead heading into the second.

Hornets coach Josh Dowdy challenged his team to pick it up on defense.

"It all starts with defense," Dowdy said. "I didn't like it early on and the kids finally responded. Credit coach Simpher, they [Delta] run a good disciplined offense. We had to make a few adjustments."

The Hornets continued to roll in the second.

Advance's Luke Steil drives against Delta's Cody Schremp during the second quarter of their first-round game Saturday in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center. Log onto semoball.com to check out more photos from the first-round games. (Fred Lynch)

Gray and Steil had 11 of their team's 14 points in the quarter.

"Coach told us that we needed to pick up our defensive pressure," Steil said. "So we started taking away passing lanes and that helped a lot."

The pressure helped Advance to multiple fast-break opportunities.

"We work on that in practice a lot," Steil said. "We try to capitalize on those points."

The Hornets' defense limited Delta to eight points in the second quarter and took a 36-18 lead into halftime.

Delta's Cody Naramore looks to pass as Advance's Dylan Dunivan defends during the fourth quarter Saturday at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Advance poured it on after the break.

Steil added eight of his 21 points in the third quarter.

"I had good dribble penetration," Steil said. "I was just looking to score off that and take it to the hole."

"Luke is a scorer," Dowdy said. "He breaks people down and has a nice little jump shot. You don't see that mid-range jumper often anymore, and I like that about his game."

The Hornets expanded their lead to 60-29 heading into the fourth and made sure Delta got no closer. The Hornets scored the first six points of the fourth, with Gray netting five of those points.

Gray finished with a game-high 22 points, providing the Hornets with the point guard play Dowdy wants.

"We're trying to get poise out of our point guard," Dowdy said. "Grant is providing that. He invites pressure and then attacks it."

Delta was led by Shelby Kight's 12 points.

The Hornets advanced to take on Charleston at 9 p.m. Monday.

Delta 10 8 11 7 -- 36

Advance 22 14 24 11 -- 71

DELTA (36) -- Austin Seabaugh 2, Teddy May 2, Cody Helderman 3, Zach Reigert 4, Chase Crowden 11, Cody Naramore 2, Shelby Kight 12. FG 15, FT 3-4, F 18. (3-pointers: Helderman 1, Crowden 2, Naramore 2. Fouled out: none)

ADVANCE (71) -- Hunter Wilson 2, Luke Steil 21, Grant Gray 22, Matt Ware 6, Dylan Dunivan 11, Brad Steil 7, Ethan Barr 2. FG 25, FT 18-27, F 8. (3-pointers: Gray 3. Fouled out: none)