Wors' buzzer-beater caps classic addition to Delta-Yorktown boys basketball rivalry

MUNCIE, Ind. — Head coaches Mark Detweiler (Delta) and Matt Moulton (Yorktown) met in the stands Friday night, recapping another classic chapter in Delaware County's best boys basketball rivalry.

The Eagles (4-0) overcame a 15-point first-half deficit to earn a 54-52 victory over the Tigers (1-2), thrilling their lively home crowd as senior forward Jackson Wors made the winning buzzer-beating layup.

On a night with several deafening moments, that final sequence sent the fans into a frenzy.

"You wouldn't find another gym and across Indiana tonight that was this loud," Wors, who notched a game-high 23 points, said. "That kind of atmosphere is amazing to play in."

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Delta's determination stays undefeated

The first half was anything but pretty for Delta.

The Eagles trailed 25-10 in the second quarter. Yorktown's annually staunch defense had them discombobulated, causing offensive stagnation and sloppiness.

"They were the aggressors, and we've got to learn to deal with that," Detweiler said. "We just were soft in a lot of areas ... We were on our heels."

Only Wors found consistent success, making four of his team's five first-half field goals. Detweiler said Wors is "more explosive off the bounce" since losing 10-15 pounds after last spring, as well as healing from offseason shoulder surgery.

Getting to the free throw line also kept Delta within striking distance as it made 11-of-12 first-half attempts.

It was apparent from the start of the third quarter, however, that these Eagles, who returned all but one starter from last season's regional-champion team, wouldn't go down easily.

Whereas Wors was a constant offensive force all evening, it was the elevation of sophomore Jordan Furney (14 points) and senior D'Amare Hood (11 points) that got Delta back in the game. Combined with implementing full-court press defense, the pair accounted for 19 of their team's 23 third-quarter points, more than Delta's total (19) from the first half.

"What I was most pleased with was Jackson and D'Amare made plays for each other, but then they gave the ball up when they needed to," Detweiler said. "And then they trusted Jordan Furney, who had a tremendous second half and really stepped up."

The win also broke a three-game losing streak to Yorktown, a triumph Detweiler said was a significant milestone for his seniors, in particular. He hopes the confidence gained will help, should the teams meet again in the county or sectional tournaments.

At this early stage of the season, though, Detweiler believes this team is ahead of last year's. Detweiler isn't sure if the 2022-23 group would've been capable of such a comeback just four games into the schedule.

"Last year, in a situation like (the final possession), we probably take a pull-up from 17 or 18 (feet)," Detweiler said. "Our mindset this year is, 'We're gonna assault the rim,' and that's gotta be a big part of our identity. And we went to the rim and the game finished with who we are.

"We're more mature. You saw that last year if we get down 15, it became iso-ball and it would have gotten ugly. This year there's trust, and I think that's the biggest difference."

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Yorktown still 'finding ways to lose'

Yorktown's two losses have come by a combined margin of five points. Each of its final five losses last season were by single digits.

Moulton believes his team is still "finding ways to lose games," with Friday night being the latest example. As the Tigers' had a game-winning attempt get blocked and rebounded by Delta, the Eagles' first winning opportunity was also blocked before bouncing directly into Wors' hands for a wide-open go-ahead score.

Still, there was plenty to be encouraged by — Tewari's 22 points, taking a large lead on the road, experiencing a playoff-like atmosphere early in the schedule — so Moulton urged his group not to be overly disappointed.

"It's tough to swallow. You want to win one like this," Moulton said. "You want to play in games like this. They make you tougher, they make you better."

As Yorktown takes on formidable Pike on Saturday before back-to-back Hoosier Heritage Conference matchups, Moulton hopes his team can figure out how to better close games sooner than later.

Handling ball pressure, shooting more free throws and getting sophomore starters more comfortable will be points of emphasis.

"I just feel like with a senior-heavy class like we have, you're counting on your players to get it done. They have so much experience," Moulton said. "(Last year) we just seemed to just always kind of not get it done. We just need to take that next step. If we truly want to be an elite team, which we think we are in Class 3A, we got to kind of win this game."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on X (platform formerly known as Twitter) @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Jackson Wors' buzzer-beater wins Delta-Yorktown boys basketball game