Delta storms out to huge lead, wins own New Year's Tournament for 3rd straight year

Delta's Sierra Berry puts up a contested shot against Meadow Heights on Saturday at Delta High School.

Michael Jeter ~ mjeter@semoball.com

DELTA, Mo. — A snowstorm that postponed the final day of the Delta New Years Tournament couldn't put a damper on the host's intentions as top-seeded Delta convincingly defeated Meadow Heights 91-22 on Saturday.

For the third year in a row, the host Bobcats laid waste to the rest of the field in the tournament.

“This is where we want to be every year, “Delta coach David Heeb said, “but I still feel we haven't played our best basketball. We’re still not starting the game out in the gear I’d like for us to be going. As hard as that is to believe, I feel we still have that next gear that we haven't hit yet.

The Delta Bobcats pose with their first-place plaque at Saturday's Delta New Year's Tournament at Delta High School.

Michael Jeter ~ mjeter@semoball.com

“I've been stressing to these girls in practice that we have to set the pace in these games because teams are trying to slow us down, as they should be. We start out the game playing at their pace and it takes so long for us to get going.”

The pace was set a little higher on Saturday as Delta outscored Meadow Heights 30-4 points in the opening quarter. Delta's defensive pressure created chaos, forcing several Panthers turnovers.

The second quarter wasn't much better for Meadow Heights, as the Panthers were outscored 26-6 and trailed 56-10 at halftime.

Delta's full-court pressure remained a constant struggle for the Panther ball handlers in the third quarter as Meadow Heights turnovers caused the deficit to increase more with the Bobcats taking an 81-18 advantage heading into the final quarter of play.

With a running clock and the Delta coach deciding to drop his pressure defense back into a half-court, 2-3 zone, the Bobcats were content with the final outcome.

Delta was led in scoring by senior Kendall Holweg who scpred 26 points and Presley Holweg who dropped 18.

The Panthers were led by junior Ashley Allen’s nine points, while senior Ashley Gruenke added five.

“We have yet to play very many quality teams even though our record coming into this game was 10-2, we just haven’t played the kind of competition like Delta and it showed today,” Meadow Heights coach Curt Finley said. “For us, it was an opportunity to see where we are with our program and what we need to improve on, especially coming down the stretch and into districts where I feel we can compete for a district title.”

Heeb agreed that his team needs to be playing its best basketball during the next month, but Delta has some tough competition coming up on its schedule.

“It’s about to get tough for us,” Heeb said. “We’ve got another game with Notre Dame, Kennett, New Madrid and Oran coming up in the next couple weeks, as well as the Jefferson City Shootout coming up at the beginning of February. But that’s what you want in something that’s going to keep you pushing and improving.”

Delta (10-1) will host Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Monday with hopes of avenging its only loss of the season — a 55-42 defeat in the First State Community Bank Holiday Classic championship on Wednesday, Dec. 22 at the Show Me Center.

Meadow Heights (10-3) will play Bloomfield on Monday in the opening round of the BCS Tri-County Girls Basketball Conference Tournament at Advance High School.

MEADOW HEIGHTS (22) — Ashley Allen 9, Ashley Gruenke 5, Rylee Shelton 2, Kylee Denman 2, Madisen Denman 4. FG: 10, FT: 0-1, F: 17. (3-pointers: Allen, Gruenke. Fouled out: K. Denman, M. Denman).

DELTA (91) — Terianna Crowden 3, Jade Berry 5, Addison Nichols 7, Presley Holweg 18, Allie Hampton 6, Gracie Branum 5, Sierra Berry 4, Lacey Blattel 17, Kendall Holweg 26. FG: 38, FT: 8-16 F: 8. (3-pointers: P. Holweg 3, Nichols 2, Crowden, J. Berry. Fouled out: none)

Note: Odd fact of the championship game was there were three sets of sisters that played in the game. Delta had two sets (Kendall and Presley Holweg, Sierra and Jade Berry) and Meadow Heights had Kylee and Madisen Denman. Not sure if that is any sort of record but it’s a pretty cool fact.

(Very) Young Bobcat wastes little time immersing herself into Delta hoop scene

Tom Davis

DELTA -- This is an unofficial statistic, but in all probability, Maylee Jo Heeb has already watched more basketball in her seven months of life, than any other toddler in the world.

Third-place

St. Vincent 45, New Madrid County Central 32

Behind 12 points each from Cailyn Prost and Haley Emmendorfer, the St. Vincent Indians took third place by defeating New Madrid County Central 45-32.

The Indians were able to handle the Eagles' full-court press and were able to pull away late in the contest, outscoring New Madrid County Central 16-8 in the final period.

Shia Fountain led the Eagles with 13 points and Emari Summers added 7 seven points.

St. Vincent (6-6) will visit Valle Catholic at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

New Madrid County Central (4-8) will travel to Sikeston at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

ST. VINCENT (45) — Cailyn Prost 12, Haley Emmendorfer 12, Mallory Patrick 2, Allie Patrick 9, Reese Barber 5, Addison Cates 5. FG: 18 FT: 4-5, F: 13. (3-pointers: Emmendorfer 2, A. Patrick, Barber, Cates. Fouled out: none).

NMCC (32) — Shia Fountain 13, Isis Decker 4, Emani Summers 7, Mikera Jackson 4, Latvia Brooks 4. FG: 12, FT: 6-15, F: 9. (3-pointers: Fountain, Summers. Fouled out: Summers).

Consolation final

Woodland 62, Advance 32

The Woodland Cardinals won in the consolation final, defeating Advance 62-32.

Woodland received 12 points each from Selena Sanford and Chloe Goodwin and 10 points from Addie Johnson to defeat the Hornets, despite a game-high 19-point performance from senior Alandry Below.

The Cardinals were ahead by only one point at the end of the first quarter, but outscored Advance 19-6 in the second period and never looked back.

Woodland (5-8) will start conference tournament play on Monday at Advance High School.

Advance (6-4) will also start conference tournament play on Monday as host of the Stoddard County Conference Tournament.

WOODLAND (62) — Caroline Rhodes 9, Chloe Goodwin 12, Maci McIntyre 7, Selena Sanford 12, Addie Johnson 10, Sarah Wilkinson 4, Mallory Barks 4, Tallie Johnson 2, Callie Hutchings 2. FG: 26, FT: 7-11, F: 14. (3-pointers: A. Johnson 2, Rhodes. Fouled out: none).

ADVANCE (32) — Kaylee Cline 9, Alandry Below 19, Lexi Hoffman 2, Natalee Roper 2. FG: 12, FT: 7-11, F: 14 (3-pointers: Cline. Fouled out: Cline, Roper).

All-Tournament Team

Alandry Below, Advance

Jade Berry, Delta

Lacey Blattel, Delta

Addison Cates, St. Vincent

Kylee Denman, Meadow Heights

Ashley Gruenke, Meadow Heights

Kendall Holweg, Delta

Presley Holweg, Delta

Addie Johnson, Woodland

Barber Reese, St. Vincent