Delta shows Naylor no mercy

Delta's Sarah Jo Cook (32) puts up a shot over Naylor's Ashley Johnson in Tuesday's Class 1 sectional playoff game (Photo by David Jenkins, Staff)

SIKESTON -- The Delta Lady Bobcats showed no mercy in their Class 1 Sectional game at the Sikeston Field House on Tuesday.

Delta raced out to a 22-2 first quarter lead and never looked back, thoroughly dominating Naylor 83-31 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Delta (25-2), state-ranked No. 2 in Class 1, will play on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. against Couch at the West Plains Civic Center.

"We've been dreaming of this since third grade," said senior center Rebecca Below. "This is our last chance."

Below led the way with 34 points, out-scoring Naylor by herself.

Delta has won 12 games in a row and will have another chance at the team that eliminated them last year in the 1A Regional game at the Sikeston Field House.

"It was little better feeling walking off the court this time than it was last year," said Delta head coach Randy White. "It was kind of frustrating last year."

Delta led just 3-2 early but ended the quarter on a 19-0 run.

The Lady Bobcats continued the onslaught in the second quarter, leading 45-8 at the half.

"The kids came out and had intensity," White said. "That's the one thing we were concerned with, that we came out with intensity and didn't play flat."

Delta extended the lead to 62-16 heading into the fourth quarter.

"All the way, that's our goal since we've been little," said senior Rebecca Cook.

Cook had 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Sarah Jo Cook had 18 points in the game while Sarah M. Cook added 10 points.

April Thomas led Naylor with 12 points.

Naylor, which was the only school that fielded a girls team in its district, finishes the year at 8-16.