GAME 12: Meadow Heights 54, Delta 51

By TOBY CARRIG ~ Semoball.com

Meadow Heights' mayhem was Delta's heartbreak.

The Panthers rallied from 17 points down in the final 7 minutes to upend winless Delta 54-51 in a consolation quarterfinal game at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center.

Derrick Wilfong, who led the Panthers with 20 points, scored a basket with 19 seconds to go to give Meadow Heights its first lead since the early going. He made a steal on Delta's final possession and converted that layin at the buzzer for the final margin.

"That felt great," Wilfong said of the final play. "I knew we had it in us, we just had to work hard and do our press like we had been."

Meadow Heights trailed by 17 at halftime and 16 entering the final period.

"I was really concerned at halftime," Panthers coach Tom Brown said. "We came out slow and draggy. Our shooting wasn't there and our defense really wasn't there."

Brown attributed the rust to a nearly two-week layoff in part because of weather conditions recently.

Delta, on the other hand, was steady in the second period. After an ugly first period ended in a 7-7 tie, the Bobcats pulled away from a 13-13 second-period deadlock with a 19-2 run to close the quarter.

The Bobcats, the 16th seed and a 66-point loser Friday, were a little shaky in the third but maintained the lead in bidding for their first win of the season in their seventh game.

"The first three quarters, we took it to them," Delta coach Justin Simpher said, "and the last quarter we played like we were OK with where we were. We got stale and it was hard to get it going again."

The Bobcats hit just 5 of 11 free throws in the final period and missed two front ends of one-and-ones. They missed a pair with 47 seconds left, not ling before Wilfong put in the go-ahead basket.

Wilfong also had consecutive baskets earlier in the period to pull Meadow Heights within two.

"Our shooting hasn't been hitting the last few nights," Wilfong said. "We just had to force turnovers and get on fast breaks."

The Panthers pressure finally wore down Delta, which carries only six players.

"I think that's why they made a lot of fouls at the end," Brown said. "They were tired, but they're solid.

"For six kids, you don't find any that work harder. Their coach does a great job with them, and I'm just proud to come out with a win."

Said Simpher: "That's all I've asked them: The wins and losses will take of themselves; you just go out and play hard each and every day and I'll be happy."

Cody Naramore scored 15 to lead Delta, while Zach Reigert added 12.

MEADOW HEIGHTS (54) -- Derrick Wilfong 20, Luke Nitsch 4, Ethan Mayfield 9, Zac Hotop 11, Nick Webb 2, Josh Keller 3, Tyler Welker 5. FG 22, FT 8-19, F 24. (3-pointers: Mayfield 1, Z. Hotop 1. Fouled out: Mayfield.)

DELTA (51) -- Teddy May 5, Cody Helderman 5, Zach Reigert 12, Cody Naramore 15, Cody Schremp 5, Shelby Kight 9. FG 16, FT 17-30, F 20. (3-pointers: Helderman 1, Reigert 1. Fouled out: none.)