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NEW CASTLE, Ind. — As Delta celebrated its 45-43 win over Blackhawk Christian in the IHSAA Class 3A regional at the New Castle Fieldhouse, a Delta fan in the bleachers celebrated the upset win with an emphatic shout: "Blackhawk down!"
If that phrase sounds familiar, it may be that "Black Hawk Down" is the name of a 2001 war film. Directed by Ridley Scott and based on a book by Mark Bowden, it depicts a crew of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers who are forced into a fight for their lives when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down in a surprise attack during the Somali Civil War.
High school basketball is a far cry from the Battle of Mogadishu, but there were some similarities between Scott's film and Saturday night's matchup where Delta claimed its third consecutive Class 3A regional title.
Of course, Blackhawk went down, made clear by the scoreboard and even clearer by the loud Delta fan. There was also a Delta force that banded together in its fight to stay alive — in the postseason, that is.
"Black Hawk Down" also differs from other war films in that it focuses on collective efforts rather than following one particular hero. Delta coach Mark Detweiler did the exact same thing when asked about the Eagles' performance.
More Local Hoops: IHSAA basketball: Monroe Central holds off Daleville to win its first regional in 15 years
"This is probably the most nameless group I've had," Detweiler said. "They just play for the name on the front, man, they play for each other, and I just love them because they've just got so much grit and trust in each other."
Delta entered the matchup as the underdog to Blackhawk Christian, one of the top programs in Indiana over the past few seasons with a 1A state title (2019) and a pair of 2A state titles (2021 and 2023). In their first season in Class 3A, the Braves went 24-3 through sectionals, led by 6-foot-8 senior Kellen Pickett. The Eagles don't have a player near that size, and Pickett's presence was felt immediately when he pinned a block against the backboard on Delta's first possession.
That block set the tone for what would be a defense-heavy affair. In fact, it was the lowest-scoring game of the eight Class 3A regionals. Delta was down for the entire first half, but never surrendered a significant run and kept it within one possession.
In the third, the Eagles went on the game's first big run with a quick pair of threes by junior Lucas Bragg and senior Cooper Bratton. Both guards had been held scoreless in the first half but came up big in the second to put Delta up 37-30 heading into the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth, Delta's senior forward duo of Jordan Furney and Bronson Edwards was not put off by the size mismatch with Pickett. The duo worked together to hold Pickett to just four fourth-quarter points and 11 total. Neither one was afraid to take the ball right at him despite the likelihood of getting swatted, which — to Pickett's credit — happened more than a few times.
"We told them this morning, 'They're taller, they're bigger, they've got a better post player than you, but we got the two best players on the floor,'" Detweiler said. "I felt like that going in, I felt like we had the two best players, basketball players."
Those two players led all scorers, as Furney finished with 12 points and Edwards led the Eagles with 19, the most important of those coming in the game's final seconds.
The Blackhawks had clawed back and tied the game at 43, knocking down a triple with 20 seconds left. With the clock ticking on overtime, Edwards drove right at Pickett, just as he had done all game, flying by and then elevating for what would be the game-winning layup, leaving just three seconds on the clock.
The Braves were able to get off an attempt at a game-winning triple, but it bounced harmlessly off the back iron to give Delta its third straight regional title.
"[It's] really just pure happiness, because you know, three-peat of sectional is crazy, but to go three-peat for regional is even crazier. Just doing that with all my best friends, it's a really special moment," Edwards said.
Contact Cade Hampton via email at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA basketball regionals: Delta takes down Blackhawk Christian
Continue reading...
If that phrase sounds familiar, it may be that "Black Hawk Down" is the name of a 2001 war film. Directed by Ridley Scott and based on a book by Mark Bowden, it depicts a crew of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers who are forced into a fight for their lives when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down in a surprise attack during the Somali Civil War.
High school basketball is a far cry from the Battle of Mogadishu, but there were some similarities between Scott's film and Saturday night's matchup where Delta claimed its third consecutive Class 3A regional title.
Of course, Blackhawk went down, made clear by the scoreboard and even clearer by the loud Delta fan. There was also a Delta force that banded together in its fight to stay alive — in the postseason, that is.
"Black Hawk Down" also differs from other war films in that it focuses on collective efforts rather than following one particular hero. Delta coach Mark Detweiler did the exact same thing when asked about the Eagles' performance.
More Local Hoops: IHSAA basketball: Monroe Central holds off Daleville to win its first regional in 15 years
"This is probably the most nameless group I've had," Detweiler said. "They just play for the name on the front, man, they play for each other, and I just love them because they've just got so much grit and trust in each other."
Delta entered the matchup as the underdog to Blackhawk Christian, one of the top programs in Indiana over the past few seasons with a 1A state title (2019) and a pair of 2A state titles (2021 and 2023). In their first season in Class 3A, the Braves went 24-3 through sectionals, led by 6-foot-8 senior Kellen Pickett. The Eagles don't have a player near that size, and Pickett's presence was felt immediately when he pinned a block against the backboard on Delta's first possession.
That block set the tone for what would be a defense-heavy affair. In fact, it was the lowest-scoring game of the eight Class 3A regionals. Delta was down for the entire first half, but never surrendered a significant run and kept it within one possession.
In the third, the Eagles went on the game's first big run with a quick pair of threes by junior Lucas Bragg and senior Cooper Bratton. Both guards had been held scoreless in the first half but came up big in the second to put Delta up 37-30 heading into the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth, Delta's senior forward duo of Jordan Furney and Bronson Edwards was not put off by the size mismatch with Pickett. The duo worked together to hold Pickett to just four fourth-quarter points and 11 total. Neither one was afraid to take the ball right at him despite the likelihood of getting swatted, which — to Pickett's credit — happened more than a few times.
"We told them this morning, 'They're taller, they're bigger, they've got a better post player than you, but we got the two best players on the floor,'" Detweiler said. "I felt like that going in, I felt like we had the two best players, basketball players."
Those two players led all scorers, as Furney finished with 12 points and Edwards led the Eagles with 19, the most important of those coming in the game's final seconds.
The Blackhawks had clawed back and tied the game at 43, knocking down a triple with 20 seconds left. With the clock ticking on overtime, Edwards drove right at Pickett, just as he had done all game, flying by and then elevating for what would be the game-winning layup, leaving just three seconds on the clock.
The Braves were able to get off an attempt at a game-winning triple, but it bounced harmlessly off the back iron to give Delta its third straight regional title.
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"[It's] really just pure happiness, because you know, three-peat of sectional is crazy, but to go three-peat for regional is even crazier. Just doing that with all my best friends, it's a really special moment," Edwards said.
Contact Cade Hampton via email at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA basketball regionals: Delta takes down Blackhawk Christian
Continue reading...
