Delone sinks improving Thunderbolts

Head coach Gerry Eckenrode has never lost to the Littlestown Thunderbolts in his 17 years at Delone Catholic.

That's what made Tuesday's first quarter between the teams special — Littlestown led 10-7.

Ultimately, the Squirettes switched defenses and allowed just 24 total shot attempts while earning the 38-20 win.

However, the Thunderbolts are making some noise, as they are one YAIAA Division III win away from equaling last year's' total.

"We're not necessarily trying to beat Delone, although, obviously that's who you measure yourself against in this area," Littlestown head coach Chris Myers said. "We're just trying to get to a level of respectability, to be one of the players (in YAIAA division III)."

Before Delone switched to the 1-3-1 zone to start the second quarter, leading to a 27-5 run, the Thunderbolts had the game right at the deliberate tempo they wanted it.

"We don't ever come out with the intention of slowing the game down, we just have the intention of getting the best shot, and we took advantage of what our opponent was giving us," Myers said.

Alley Abate opened the scoring when she attacked the outside shoulder of the post defender and layed the ball in left handed 40 seconds in.

Even after Riley Vingsen's euro-step layup and Catie Apgar's lob to Elise Knobloch put Delone in front, Littlestown didn't wilt.

Midway through the first, Emily Lanahan capitalized on a Delone turnover and drove to the basket and hit a tough runner to tie it at 4.

The real highlight came late in the first quarter, when the offense swung the ball around the perimeter, and Michaela Yealy found Janelle Kress for an open three at the top left of the arc to make it 10-6.

Then, the second quarter started.

Katie Laughman's scoop-leaner under the outside arm of a defender and subsequent three-point play out Delone up 12-10 1:42 in.

A steal and lay-in by Lilly Singleton and a left-wing 3 by Vingsen stretched the lead.

Singleton scored again in transition after Laughman deflected and stole a pass out of a trap along the froncourt sideline.

Littlestown only scored two buckets against the 1-3-1 in the second and third quarters.

"I said 'hey, let's change it up', and it really threw (Littlestown) off," Eckenrode said.

By the time Delone's Ashlyn Miller beat the third quarter buzzer with a 3, the lead was 34-15.

DELONE CATHOLIC 38, LITTLESTOWN 20 
Littlestown (20)
Kress 1 0-0 3, Gauthier 1 3-6 5, Yealy 0 0-0 0, Abate 3 0-0 6, Morgan 0 0-0 0, Snyder 0 0-0 0, Lanahan 3 0-0 6. Totals - 8 3-6 20. 
Delone Catholic (38)
A. Miller 2 0-0 6, Singleton 3 0-0 6, Vingsen 3 0-0 7, Laughman 2 1-1 6, Anderson 0 2-2 2, Knobloch 4 0-0 8, Apgar 1 0-0 2, Zumbrum 0 1-2 1. Totals - 15 4-5 38. 
Littlestown_ 10_ 2_ 3_ 5_ —_ 20 
Delone Catholic_ 7_ 15_ 12_ 4_ —_ 38 
3-point goals: Littlestown 1 (Kress). Delone Catholic 4 (A. Miller 2, Vingsen, Laughman).