Last year, the Delphi girls’ basketball team accomplished much of what they wanted to. Starting off their impressive season by beating the Carroll Cougars in the final round of the Indiana Kitchen Classic to win the early season tournament was just a start. The Lady Oracles went on to capture an overall 11-9 record. Looking to capitalize on a winning regular season record, Delphi traveled to Winamac where they competed for a class 2A sectional title. The Oracles opened up the first round against a Hoosier Conference opponent, in Rensselaer, where they won 62-46 advancing them to the sectional semi-final. Unfortunately, that was where Delphi’s season would end. They faced off against Winamac and fell 56-37.

Retaining all but two varsity players from last year, head coach Dan Dawson knows the amount of potential he has in this year’s team. “We have what it takes to be sectional champions,” he said. “To do so, these girls must focus on being great teammates and overall team goals.”

Leading the Lady Oracles this year will be juniors Myka Roth and Tatum Minier. Sophomore leadership will also come from Rylee Lane and Bailey Gasser. When asked about what aspects of the game needed to improve this year, Coach Dawson said, “More focus and concentration must be directed to the defensive end of the floor.” Dawson also said that “improved decision making in transition” will be vital this season.

So far this season, the Lady Oracles have jumped out to a 3-2 record, with one of those losses coming from a three point deficit in overtime against West Central. Delphi also opened up the 2014 Indiana Kitchen Classic last Tuesday, Nov. 18. Early in the tournament, the Oracles beat Tri-County 67-24, followed by a victory over Clinton Central in the semi-final. Advancing to the championship for the second year in a row, the Oracles had to compete against a county rival in Carroll. Hungry from last year’s loss, the Cougars came out strong. The Oracles bounced back though, entering halftime down by a score of 20-16. Unfortunately, Carroll could not be stopped in the second half. The Lady Oracles fell 43-31 to place second in the Kitchen Classic.

The Oracles were given a chance to avenge the loss to Carroll in a regular season game on Tuesday, Nov. 25.  This time the Oracles won 45-31.  They are back in action at home on Saturday, Dec. 20 against Faith Christian.