Delta boys hit bright spots among losses

Despite all that, there were some bright spots in the Panthers’ 96-47 loss in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. 

Easton Baier dropped in 18 points, fully bodying at least one future college basketball player on his way to the rim. Ten of those points came in the second quarter, half the team total as the Panthers raced to keep up with the high-scoring, quick-shooting Sun Devils. 

“I love that kid,” Delta coach Rob Ames said. “You’re going to get one thing from Easton Baier and that’s his very best. I’m happy for him. Being a senior, if you’re going to go out, that’s how you want to go out. I’m going to miss him.”

The Sun Devils held a 32-10 lead after an opening quarter where they knocked down four 3-points and numerous shots all over the court. The Panthers kept pace in a second quarter that the Sun Devils won 23-20, making the halftime score 55-30. In the second half, Delta started to run out of gas as Kent Denver went to its deep bench, maintaining the same smothering press and quick-fire offense.

“I’m pleased with the way we broke their press,” Ames said. “That’s a team, you see on film, they like to play fast and control the tempo and they do that through their press. We did a really nice job with that; we just gave away the ball too much after that.”

It was the capstone to a season of growth for the Panthers, who snuck into the playoffs with an 8-15 record. There was a four-game stretch in January where it seemed like the team captured some momentum, but they lost five of their next six games.

Still, Ames said it was a joy to watch talented athletes, coming off a fight for a football state championship, to flex their talents on the hardwood.

“I love them all,” Ames said. “Selfishly, I want to keep practicing. I wish we were practicing today. These are great men to be around. They’re great competitors and the best guys walking the halls at Delta High School were on this team.”