DELTA – Delta used a suffocating zone, trapping defense over 48 minutes as the Panthers came away with a hard-fought home win over the Tinora Rams, 45-36.

The host Panthers jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, never looked back, and never trailed on their way to win number two this early season.

The first half saw a very physical game that witnessed Delta’s Luke Reinhard erupt for 8 points as Delta grabbed a 17-8 lead over the Rams.

The second quarter saw the Panthers lead balloon to 12 points at the 7-minute mark, trailing 20-8. The Rams would start to sneak back into the game, courtesy of Aiden Rittenhouse and Owen Ackerman.

Ackerman’s three would cut the Delta lead to 22-17 with just over a minute remaining in the half, that would be the score as the teams headed to the half.

Rittenhouse would bucket nine first-half points, and Ackerman followed with six.
Delta was paced by Luke Reinhard’s 10 points at the break.

After seeing Delta grab an early third-quarter lead that ballooned to 12 points, 29-17, the Rams chipped away at the Panther lead, eventually tying the game at 29-29 with Adam Spychalla’s right corner three-pointer at the 2:05 mark of the third quarter.

Delta would answer right back with a basket and a foul shot by Luke Reinhard at the 1:30 mark of the quarter, giving the Panthers a 32-29 lead, a lead that Delta would never relinquish.
The Panthers would exit the quarter with a 33-29 lead.

Unfortunately for the Rams, the shots would not fall over the final eight minutes, Delta would outscore the Rams 12-7 in the final period, staking claim with a 45-36 home victory.

Delta’s Justin Ruple would bucket 10 points, his driving, and slashing to the basket in the second half keyed the Panthers win.

Tinora’s Aiden Rittenhouse would exit the game midway through the fourth quarter, fouling out, limiting the struggling Tinora ice-cold offense even more. Rittenhouse would lead all scorers with a game high 17 points.

The Rams fall to 0-2 to start the 2023-’24 season. Tinora will host Napoleon on Saturday night, 12/9.

Delta improves to 2-0 and will travel to Montpelier to take on the Locos Saturday night, 12/9

Junior varsity game was won by Delta, 40-21.
The leading scorer for Tinora was Alden Friedricksen with 12, and for Delta, Derek Sargent with 10.

TINORA 8-9-12-7=36
DELTA 17-5-11-12=45

TINORA – Ackerman 8, Welling 2, Rittenhouse 17, Leib 3, Spychala 3, Shetton 3
DELTA – J Ruple 10, Gibbons 10, Reindard 14, York 2, Brasher 5