By Austen Burks, Sports Editor.
Men’s basketball
Delta’s men’s basketball is on a three game win streak after traveling to Owens Community College on Nov. 18 and Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Nov 25.
The Pioneers were able to upset the eighth ranked team in OCC by being able to find the basket in the paint and good shot selection. 19-year-old point guard and accounting major Markel Bradshaw was the leading scorer with 26 points, and four assists. Bradshaw a vital part of the team averages 19.7 points per game and is shooting a 59.9 percent from the field.
“We are playing very well as a team” says Bradshaw. “We are competing against top competition”. Bradshaw says after the Pioneers defeat two top 25 teams on the road. Playing with intensity propelled the Pioneers to the win, as OCC took the lead late in the game the Pioneers rallied together to go on a 6-0 run led by Bradshaw and 6’5 forward Dan Stanback who secured a double double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
As the first month of basketball ends for Delta they stand with a 4-2 record. “Our biggest hurdle is staying healthy and being able to come out and play hard against quality competition” says Bradshaw. The pioneers play quick and with intensity Bradshaw thinks highly of his team “I believe we are a very good up tempo basketball team, we play our best in transition. Our best defense is man to man. We are able to pressure the team.”
The game against OCC ended with a 93-88 victory for the Pioneers, while they also defeated Kalamazoo Valley Community College by nine points with a 86-77 victory.
Women’s basketball
Delta’s women’s basketball team sit at a 2-2 record and have lost two straight road games against Owens Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
With four games played the Pioneers are shooting 25 percent from the field, but are also averaging 13 turnovers a game. Kennedy James, second year guard, says “Our best offense is when we are attacking the basket and getting to the line.” The Pioneers are now averaging 24 free throws a game, and obtained a 78 free throw percentage over the first four games.
Bad shot selection continues to plague the Pioneers as they average 14.8 attempts from behind the 3-point line, while only averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers. “Our biggest hurdle is we need to play better as a team,” said James, “we need to work on getting everyone involved.” Perhaps the strongest aspect of the team is their defense. The Pioneers average 10.5 steals and 37.2 rebounds per game.
“Our full court man defense works the best,” said James. Pressure defense forces the offense to think and move fast, in hopes that the defense can force them to make a mistake and turn the ball over. The Pioneers have forced 77 turnovers in their four games with a whopping 37 coming against Grand Rapids Community College.
As December rolls in the ladies set their eyes on a five game home stretch starting with Columbus State Community College on Dec. 7 and the Lynn Conway Classic starting on Dec.12, with hopes that the Pioneer gym will give them the boost they need to end the streak and enter conference play with a winning spirit.
