SHORTHANDED DELTA WILL NEED TO WORK OVERTIME IF IT MOVES DEEP INTO BRACKET

Should Delta play the four games maximum in the U-High Tournament, coach Jim Gloth's players may all be asleep at the stroke of midnight when the year 2000 rolls in.

Gloth, in his fourth year of coaching and second at Delta, has his smallest squad ever and is trying to make ends meet. The Bobcats, who had 12 players on the varsity last year, have eight players this year. Seven see the bulk of the playing time.

" We try to work ball around and get best shot possible. We find ourselves slowing down more than last year."

Delta, which has compiled a 2-3 record during the early portion of its schedule, enters the tournament as the 13th seed and will play fourth-seeded Notre Dame in first-round action Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Delta owns victories over Bloomfield and Meadow Heights and has lost games to Advance, Leopold and Oran.

"Defensively we're not too bad," said Gloth. "We're having trouble getting some scoring. We're just not shooting well. As season goes on I hope it gets better."

Josh Altenthal has led the offense with 15 points per game and Allen Rhodes is also in double figures at 10 points.

Delta's other three starters, Jeremy Dohogne, Robbie Lemonds and Troy Nussbaum, are all averaging around six points apiece.

Also seeing a lot of playing time are Jason Kennedy and Robert Pruitt.

"Our defense has to score more points than what they have been scoring," said Gloth. "We know we're going to have trouble scoring so the defense has to help a little."

Gloth said he thinks the shooting problems are a matter of confidence.

As far as the tournament goes, he knows his squad will have its hands full with Notre Dame in the opening round.

"Hopefully we'll be competitive the first round," said Gloth. "If some things go our way we'll be grateful. We try tell kids play hard and think while they're out on floor and play as hard as can. As long do that there's nothing to hang their heads about."

Gloth said he sees the tournament as pretty open with about four or five teams having the chance of winning the title.