BB SECT 24: 3A #12 Muncie South, #13 Delta advance to final

MUNCIE – You don’t often get second chances when you play a team as good as Delta, but that is just what Mississinewa received March 6 in the first semifinal of Class 3A Sectional 24 at Muncie South. A spirited second-half rally sent the Indians home with the respect of the nearly 4,000 in attendance as well as that of the 13th-ranked Eagles. 

It did not, however, earn the Indians a return ticket for Saturday night’s championship game. Delta survived, 62-57, and advanced to a date with No. 12 Muncie South, a 55-52 winner over Yorktown in the other semi, for the title.

Mississinewa needed the late rally because of a spectacular first half of play by Delta (19-4). The Eagles were quick, solid on defense, shooting well, and completely in control during the first two quarters. 

The Eagles jumped to a 13-3 lead in the first three minutes and never looked back. By the end of the first quarter, the margin was 23-11. The rout continued in the second period, largely on the deadly shooting of junior Logan Young. 

The Eagles led at intermission, 39-24, and there appeared to be little Mississinewa could do to slow the offensive display. But Indian coach Chance Young and his troops had different ideas. That is especially true for junior guard Chris Birky. 

Mississinewa (13-8) came out in the second half with renewed defensive pressure and offensive purpose. The Indians combined to spark an 18-6 third-quarter outburst that closed the margin to 45-42 late in the period. 

Mississinewa actually had a chance to tie in the final minute of the period but failed to convert. But Delta’s Skyler Case converted an old-fashioned three-point play before the horn to give the Eagles some breathing room after three stanzas, 48-42.

Good teams are able to regain lost composure and momentum. That is exactly what Delta did in the fourth quarter. The Eagles were precise and deadly from the field as well as free throw line. 

Unfortunately for them, they had let a quality team back into the game, and the Indians were not going anywhere. Behind stellar play from Birky, Mississinewa stayed within striking distance down to the wire as Birky scored 13 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. 

Twice the Indians closed within one possession, but both times Delta’s Greg Heban nailed huge 3- pointers to keep them at bay. Mississinewa had only one chance to tie, and that was in the final minute trailing 60-57,

But Birky was unable to connect or draw a foul driving the lane. Delta hit two free throws on the subsequent trip and iced the verdict. 

Muncie South (16-6) both applied and survived the pressure in its sectional semifinal victory over Yorktown. The Rebels used a variety of pressure defenses to build a comfortable lead, then survived the pressure of seeing that lead totally evaporate. 

The result was a thrilling 55-52 triumph and a date with Delta in the championship game.

Muncie South used more defense than a supermodel has changes of clothes in an effort to keep the Tigers off-balance. The Rebels employed a 1-3-1, a trapping 2-3, a 2-2-1 half-court trap, and a few possessions of man-to-man. At times the pressure paid dividends, at others Yorktown handled it with ease. 

The Rebels used a 1-3-1 trapping zone at the outset of the game and forced Yorktown (10-12) into three early turnovers. The Rebels, however, were less than efficient on the offensive end, and when Yorktown finally got comfortable the Tigers rallied to a 12-10 lead after one quarter. 

That pattern continued through the second stanza. South began switching the pressure defenses and gave Yorktown trouble, but the Rebels could not take advantage – mostly due to being unable to get anything going inside. 

The two teams sputtered to intermission with Yorktown still clinging to a 23-22 lead.

Rebels coach Rick Baumgartner found a solution at halftime. He had his troops extend the pressure full court and told them to crash the offensive boards, and that combination worked nearly to perfection. 

Muncie South forced the Tigers into six third-quarter turnovers and scored numerous points on offensive rebounds and putbacks. When Jamill Smith hit a three to start the fourth quarter, it pushed South’s lead to 45-32 and appeared to put the final nail in Yorktown’s coffin. 

Appearances can be deceiving. 

The Tigers used a switch in defensive strategy of their own. They changed from a sagging, switching, man-to-man into a 1-3-1 half-court zone. If South’s strategy had been nearly perfect, Yorktown’s went all the way. 

The Rebels began to be very passive on the offensive end of the floor, and that was all the opportunity Yorktown needed. The Tigers went on an 11-0 run to cut the lead to 45-43 with 3:30 to play. 

It appeared Smith might have stemmed the tide for South when he drained a long trey to take the lead back to five at 48-43. Yorktown, though, wasn’t done. The Tigers rattled off seven more unanswered points to actually take the lead at 50-48 with under two minutes left in the game. 

Muncie South was in need of a hero, and once again Smith delivered. The diminutive guard hit another long bomb to put the Rebels back in front 51-50, and they would never trail again. 

In all, Smith scored 11 of Muncie South’s 13 fourth-quarter points – also 11 of the 13 points he scored for the evening. Scoring honors for the Rebels went to Rondell Wolfe, who tallied a game-high 25 points. 

Yorktown’s balanced attack was led by the 13 points of Wes Winkle.

Game 1: Delta 67, Eastbrook 26

Game 2: Muncie South 69, Blackford 38

Game 3: Delta 62, Mississinewa 57

Game 4: Muncie South 55, Yorktown 52

Championship: Delta vs. Muncie South. Sat 7:30p ET