Eagles snatch a win from Connersville in fourth quarter

Muncie- The Spartans travelled to face the Delta Eagles on the road Saturday evening. The early season matchup has been split over the last several years with the home team prevailing. This year was no different with Delta pulling out the win on their home court. The Spartans hung with the Eagles and were within a possession of tying the game in in the last minute. Delta held off the Spartans for a 44-41 win.  

The Delta Eagles took an early 5-0 lead before a layup from James Williams got the Spartans on the board. Delta hit another three-pointer midway through the frame to make it 10-4. Lucas Barron got two baskets and Josh Williams another and the game was tied at 10-10 with one minute to go in the first frame. Ja. Williams made his way to the line and sunk two freebies to collect his fourth point of the game. A last-minute shot from Delta tied the game at 12-12 to start the second quarter. Ja. Williams paced the Spartans to begin the second frame scoring the first four points for Connersville and the game was tied at 16-16. A long ball from Delta from put them up 19-17, then Barron went to the line and tied it up with 1:50 to play in the half. Another Delta three pointer got them a lead, but Connersville got a basket from Braxton Myers before the half and the score was 23-21 in favor of Delta at the midway point.

Gavin Pearson started the third period with a three to give the Spartans a lead. Ja. Williams added to the lead with a layup, and it was 26-23 CHS. Delta got on the board with 5:00 to go, the score stayed at 26-25 for the next three and a half minutes while both squads racked up fouls but no points. Delta broke the scoreless streak with a three pointer, Jo. Williams added a basket before the half and the score was 28-28 at the end of three quarters. Delta got a three with six minutes to go to score the first points of the fourth quarter. Ja. Williams responded on the next possession to make it 31-30. The Eagles went up by four after completing an and one opportunity. Barron got a free throw and CHS was down by three midway through the frame, 34-31. Delta made their way back to the charity stripe and hit one to take a four-point lead with three minutes to go. Pearson went to the line on the next possession and pulled the Spartans within three after hitting both freebies.

A Connersville foul put Delta in the double bonus for the remainder of the game, they hit both shots and it was 37-33. An Eagle layup put them up by six, Barron cut the lead four with a minute to go, Ja. Williams took a Pearson pass and scored cutting it to a two-point lead. With 35 seconds left Delta went back to the line draining both, a quick inbound and long pass to Jo. Williams, who got one to fall from under the basket, had the Spartans down by just a basket 41-39 with 29 seconds left. Delta got a quick basket and a turnover going to the line hitting one. Pearson drove the length of the court hitting a shot and Connersville was back within a possession of the Eagles with the score 44-41. Unfortunately, Delta ran out the remaining six seconds and collected the three-point win. The Spartans dropped to 1-1 on the season. They will play next Friday on the road at Rushville for their first EAIC game. They will then have travel to face another Hoosier Heritage Conference opponent, Shelbyville, on Saturday evening.

Connersville Scoring