By MIKE BLATT
DELPHI — Basketball teams are supposed to be rusty after a three-week layoff.
Apparently, someone forgot to tell Zech Sanders and the Northwestern Tigers as they started fast and never looked back, leading the Delphi Oracles from wire to wire for a 58-41 win. The victory evened the Tigers’ record at 3-3 on the season.
Sanders was red hot as the game began, scoring the game’s first eight points on two 3-pointers and a baseline drive. Delphi regrouped, but still trailed 18-8 after a period.
Northwestern coach Jim Gish attributed the fast start to his team’s focus.
“These kids really wanted to come out and play basketball,” he said, “and three weeks [off] will do that to you.”
Sanders, who hit five of seven shots in the first half, including four of six from beyond the arc, was a beneficiary of good teamwork according to Gish.
“It all started with the defensive end,” he noted. “Zech obviously did some nice things offensively for us, but, wow, his defense was really good … and, in turn, that got his offense going.
“And give the [other] guys a lot of credit,” added Gish. “They got him the ball, and Jimmy Corcoran, Jimmy McKee, Jared Treadway, and Aaron Snoddy set some really nice screens for him. So there are a lot of things that go into those points.”
The Tiger onslaught continued in the second quarter. With Sanders canning two more treys, NW extended its lead to 36-16 at intermission.
Despite being outrebounded 28-13 by the Tigers for the game, Delphi (1-7) fought hard in the third quarter. The Oracles cut the margin to 47-29 as Austin Hawn got hot, scoring nine points in the period. Two baskets and a pair of free throws to open the fourth stanza helped Delphi close to within 12 at 47-35, but NW answered with a 10-4 run to put the game away.
Delphi coach Brian Tonsoni praised the Tigers.
“[Northwestern] just played really well,” he said. “They shot the ball well early. We’ve got to give Northwestern credit. They came to play and they stuck it to us early, and we couldn’t get back at them.”
Sanders finished the game with 18 points to lead all scorers. Brayden Merrell, who was held to 1 of 6 shooting in the first half, went 3-for-3 in the second and finished with 11 points for the Tigers. McKee was the game’s top rebounder with six, and Corcoran and Treadway added five apiece.
Hawn was the only Oracle in double figures with 12 points, followed by eight from Kris Bender and six from Tanner Cripe. Sophomore Jordan Wagner came off the bench to lead Delphi with four rebounds.
Tonight, Northwestern hosts Clinton Central while Delphi is at home against Rossville.
