During the regular season, the Delta Eagles and Yorktown Tigers split the series with two completely different games. In the first game, the Eagles took the victory when senior Jackson Wors hit a game-winning layup.
In the second matchup, the Tigers ran past the Eagles and defeated the blue and gold in the Delaware County championship game.
The two met in tonight’s sectional No. 24 championship game to decide the victor. With help from multiple Eagles, Delta took the 55-44 win, their second straight sectional championship.
“It’s always fun and it never gets less fun,” Delta head coach Mark Detweiler said. “It’s hard to go back-to-back and it’s hard to wear that bullseye… As a coach sometimes, you can feel it. You can sense if a team is nervous. Hell, [us coaches] were more nervous than they were.”
The contest at the New Castle High School fieldhouse opened with defense and more defense. The Eagles and Tigers did not give either side an inch as Delta only led 8-6 at the 2:38 mark of the first quarter.
But the Eagles started to find an offensive rhythm near the end of the opening period. One item that aided the blue and gold was senior Jonny Manor and his energy. Manor came into the state tournament as a facilitator, not a shooter. But a few weeks before the postseason, he changed his mindset.
“They guarded me in the county [championship] that way,” Manor said. “It’s impossible for any of the guys to get in the lane and do anything. My teammates knew they could hit me and that's what we did.”
While he missed his first three shots, the guard kept pulling the trigger and the baskets began to fall. At one point, Delta senior Jackson Wors told Detweiler to make Manor take more shots.
“He’s responded in the last month and been more aggressive,” Detweiler said. “His teammates have trust in him to make good decisions.”
Congratulations, @DeltaEagles_. @dn_sports pic.twitter.com/sSOYKnljCz
— Zach Carter (@ZachCarter85) March 3, 2024
Yet the aggressiveness wasn't just from Manor. The Eagles as a whole showed when they catch fire, it can spread.
“Our chemistry is way better than it was to start the year,” senior Jayden Furney said. “Our defense is together and we are playing together as a team.”
The Eagles success continued throughout the game and they never seemed rattled. However, the Tigers never gave in. During the final minutes of the third quarter, Yorktown found some success on offense. It carried over into the final period, but in the end, the Eagles’ defense proved to be too much.
The Tigers are losing four seniors. From their practice jerseys turning yellow to spending extra time working on their game, Moulton believes they were the perfect example of being leaders.
“They have meant a lot to our program,” he said. “They have put their blood, sweat, and tears into it since first grade. It’s just not a fun way to end it.”
Manor led the Eagles with 15 points and senior D’Amare Hood followed with 12. Senior Mason Moulton led the Tigers with 13 points. While the Eagles are happy with the title, they believe this is just one item crossed off their list. Detweiler thinks this team is built for a run, but the players know their capabilities.
“I believe we can go all the way to state,” senior Kaiden Bond said.
The Eagles will play in regionals Saturday, March 9 and will face Fort Wayne Concordia. The location and time is to be announced. In other Delaware County games, Wapahani defeated Monroe Central to become sectional No. 40 champions and Cowan fell to Liberty Christian in the sectional No. 55 championship game.
Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
Read More
Ball State men’s golf capture first Mid-American Conference Championship since 1986
By Nick Shelton / 8 hours agoMaintaining composure and following head coach Mike Fleck’s game plan throughout its three-day event at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Indiana, Ball State men’s golf captured the 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship in convincing fashion.
Delaware County boys golf tournament results
By Staff Reports / 12 hours agoThe 2024 Delaware County Boys Golf Tournament took place Saturday April 27th, and it was the Yorktown Tigers taking the championship.
Ball State women’s basketball seniors Estel Puiggros and Annie Rauch share a special friendship
By Elijah Poe / 16 hours agoNew roommates often text, call or direct message each other before moving in together, but Ball State women’s basketball seniors Estel Puiggros and Annie Rauch never did. Move-in day of their freshman year was the first time they spoke.
