Rossville and Delphi’s opening-night battle did not disappoint, as the Hornets topped the Oracles 77-48.
Brayden Thiele-Hahn said he knew it was going to be a good night after he knocked down his fourth or fifth three-pointer. The Rossville junior scored early and often, posting 27 points in the first half and finishing with a Rossville single-game record 52.
“It felt amazing,” Thiele-Hahn said. “I caught fire, hit four or five threes, kept knocking them down and my teammates kept giving me the ball.”
Better known as “butter,” Thiele-Hahn finished with 10 three-pointers. He shot 10-18 from three, 2-2 from the line and 10-11 from two.
Despite the big game and hot start from Thiele-Hahn, the Hornets trailed the Oracles after the first quarter 21-18.
Kaydn McAtee scored nine points and the Oracles dominated the glass on both ends in the first quarter.
In quarter two, the Hornets switched up their defense, moving to a 2-3 zone. The change stifled Delphi’s offensive rhythm and the Oracles scored just six points in the second quarter.
At halftime, Rossville led 39-27.
Rossville kept the pressure on in the third. Thiele-Hahn picked up where he left off in the first half, pushing the lead to 58-39.
“Just give him the ball and get out of his way when he’s like that,” Rossville coach Cory Dunn said. “He puts in more work than anybody else. I would question anybody around who says they put in more work than him. He’s deserving of it. He’s humble. You could see that in how our guys reacted toward it. He’s a special kid.”
Thiele-Hahn broke the record on a drive to the basket. Finishing the layup and listening to the crowd erupt.
“This feels great,” Thiele-Hahn said. “But we still have a whole season ahead of us, we have to worry about the next game, we’ve got Webo next, so let’s go get that win.”
Rossville took the game 77-48. Moving to 1-0 and winning a key Hoosier Heartland Conference game.
“It’s always nerve-racking coming into that first game,” Dunn said. “I think even more so at home. We always have a great crowd; it’s a rivalry game, and for two weeks, you’re on pins and needles. We kind of looked like that in the first quarter. We made some defense adjustments, and the guys figured it out.
It’s the third year in a row the Hornets have taken the opening night rivalry game over the Oracles.
Thiele-Hahn was named The Farmers Bank Player of the Game. He finished with 52 points and 10 rebounds.
Watch the whole game archived on Hoosierland TV by clicking below.
The Game of the Week is brought to you by:
Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union
Welty Exteriors
Norman and Miller Eyecare
Jerry’s Body Shop
Wampler’s Services, Inc
The Farmers Bank
Winski Bros
Barrett Farms Express
Encompass Credit Union
Busy Bee Stitches LLC
Tier One Meat Co.
Fiberhawk
The Frankfort Moose Lodge
Fire Pizza