MUNCIE, Ind – The semi-final games of the Delaware County boys’ basketball tournament had one thing in common: explosive offense for the winning teams.
After the two games at Delta High School, Wapahani and Yorktown combined for 145 points, which allowed both of them to move on to the championship game Saturday, Jan. 18. The game will be played at 8 p.m. Here’s how Friday night’s games unfolded.
Wapahani 80 - Daleville 35
The Wapahani Raiders are no strangers to putting on an offensive clinic. But the undefeated No. 1 team in Class 2A found themselves down 6-0 to the Broncos in the opening minutes.
“I knew coming into the game that they were gonna try something,” Wapahani junior Camden Bell said. “We have a target on our back.”
After settling in, they led at halftime 34-22. But it was after the break when the Raiders found their momentum.
“Once we calmed down at halftime and said ‘Hey, what are we doing here,’ it kind of showed the maturity of our coaches and our players,” Raiders’ head coach Matt Luce said.
Steals, 3-pointers and solid all-around play helped the white and red take the victory. Though the Broncos tried different defensive setups to control their opponent, none proved to be impactful. Bell led the way for the Raiders with 22 points while senior Eli Andrews followed with 15. Daleville senior Noah Colvin led the way for the black and gold with 15 points.
“[Daleville head coach] Ashley [Fouch] does a good job working with them,” Luce said.
”I've seen Colvin play for a long, long time and he's a major competitor in soccer and basketball. We knew they'd give us their best shot and they did.”
The Raiders are now on to the title game, and if they were to win, it would be their sixth in the last 15 years.
The girls’ championship game will be played before the boys’ contest. It will start at 6 p.m. and will feature the Delta Eagles and Wapahani Raiders. Luce has a son — Nate — and two daughters on the girls’ team — Emily and Meghan — and he was emotional when talking about them.
“We worked really hard to have competitive programs,” Matt said. “It’s just a huge opportunity …
and it's hard to do. It humbles me because as a dad, I get to sit back and cheer on [my family].”
Yorktown 65 - Cowan 25
Much like the first game of the night, offense was the key. But going into the contest, Yorktown head coach Matt Moulton didn’t just want a good offensive performance. He wanted a passionate outing.
“I wanted us to make all of our cuts with purpose and passion,” Moulton said. “I know that sounds like a cliche, but truly. You can't trot through any place. You gotta want it like your life depends upon it.”
But it wasn’t just him. The players wanted it as well.
“[The goal was] to kill everybody in front of you,” Yorktown junior Jabin Barnes said.
It didn’t take long for that mindset to show itself on the court as the Tigers leaped to a 14-5 lead. To end the first half, it was 31-12.
The second half continued to be filled with offensive highlights from the Tigers as they never took their foot off the gas.
Barnes led the Tigers with 16 points. Yorktown now has to face the Raiders, who also play with poise on offense. Last season, the green and white knocked off the Raiders en route to their 2024 Delaware County title. But this is a new roster and a new year.
To Moulton, they shouldn’t have to rely on the past. The mindset and goal should already be ingrained in their heads.
“It's just gotta be a championship breakfast, a championship lunch,” Moulton said. “Get a championship sleep tonight, be a champion on social media and be a champion in our shoot-around tomorrow.
“It has to be an absolute competitive athletic performance.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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