Photo by Wayne Crick

While teammate Skylyn Webb (10) looks on, Delta sophomore Callie Gafford shoots over Steamboat Springs’ Sydney Bauknecht in a game played on Saturday afternoon in Delta. The Lady Panthers got back on the winning track with a 54-32 victory.

Delta bounced back on Saturday afternoon with a 54-32 win over the visiting Steamboat Springs' Lady Sailors.

Even with the loss, which dropped the Lady Panthers out of the top 10 state rankings in 4A, Delta has enjoyed another record-setting season for Delta High School. The Lady Panthers 15-game winning streak is the longest in the school's history and gives them a chance to better last year's 17-5 record. Delta could finish 18-4 with a win in Palisade (a game played on Tuesday, Feb. 14).

A loss to Glenwood Springs a week ago knocked the Lady Panthers out of a shot for an uncontested league title. A win by Moffat County, against Glenwood Springs, on Tuesday (Feb. 14) would throw the league into a three-way tie for the title for the second year in a row. A Glenwood win gives the title to the Lady Demons and relegates Delta to second place.

In either case scenario, the Lady Panthers are in the playoffs and could host a first-round of 48 playoff. After that, the chances of being at home would be greatly diminished.

MoCo 61, Delta 60

Delta looked as though they might have an edge against the Lady Bulldogs in the first period as they started fast for a 16-11 advantage. Taylor Zunich sparked the early run with a pair of threes to lead the charge. Melissa Camilletti kept pace with Zunich as she scored nine for the Bulldogs.

The two teams reversed their scoring roles in the second quarter with Moffat County holding the edge 16-11 and a 27-27 tie at halftime.

Skylyn Webb had five points to lead Delta shooters in the second stanza. Three of her points came on a three-for-six performance at the free throw line. Shelby Curtis was four-for-four at the line.

In all, Delta's inability to be consistent at the line has hindered their success in several games this season. Against Moffat County, the Lady Panthers shot a dismal 13 for 27. Missed layups and short-range putbacks have also been a concern for Delta coach Matt Hamm.

Second-half play featured a see-saw game with each team seeing the lead come and go.

Moffat County (8-2, 15-6) was two-points better than Delta in the third period with Annie Sadvar scoring six of the Lady Bulldogs' 12 points.

The Lady Panthers had to scramble to stay with Moffat County down the stretch. Each team had mini-runs to put pressure on their opponents. The final seconds of the game were intense for both teams. A two-point lead for Moffat County was erased on Sadie Carrillo's three-pointer with just under six seconds left in the game and Delta holding a 60-59 lead.

Moffat County's Melissa Camilletti, a thorn in the side of Delta all evening, took the ball on a throw-in at one end of the court and dribbled the entire length of the floor to score the winning basket as the buzzer sounded.

Delta outscored the Bulldogs 23-22 in the final period with Camilletti scoring 11 of Moffat County's points. Webb was Delta's offensive force in the fourth quarter with eight points and finished the game with 20 counters. Moffat County's Camilletti had 27 to lead all scorers in the game. Shelby Curtis chipped in 10 for Delta and Sadvar finished with 17 for Moffat County.

Delta 54, SS 32

Saturday's hardwood encounter with Steamboat Springs didn't have the pressure-packed finish like Friday's game.

The game was evenly played in the first quarter with Delta taking a 14-13 lead on Callie Gafford's 10-point performance.

Delta's defense stepped up their intensity in the second stanza to allow its offense to outscore Moffat County 10-2. The Panthers owned a 24-15 halftime lead.

Neither team was on its offensive game in the third quarter, but the Lady Panthers managed to add four points to their lead with a 10-6 edge to make it 34-21 going into the final period.

Seven points from Webb and a pair of treys from Alyssa Goff gave Delta more breathing room in the final stanza as Delta outscored the Lady Sailors 20-11 to make the final score 54-32.

Gafford's 19 points topped all scorers in the game with Webb throwing in another 16 counters for the winners.

Eryn Pinck had 14 points to lead Steamboat Springs.

Delta will await the final standings following this week's contest in Palisade (Feb. 14) to see where they finish in 4A seeding in the field of 48.