Jay County opponents have averaged fewer than 44 points a game during the past six seasons.
That kind of defensive presence is reminiscent of Delta during the career of Paul Keller when he coached the Eagles for 17 years through the 2009-10 season.
Delta is going back to the future this season as a protegé of Jay County coach Craig Teagle takes over the Eagles program.
Ryan VanSkyock, an assistant at Jay County the past eight years and a former Patriot player, has his eyes keenly trained on the defensive end of the court as he prepares for his first season as the Delta coach.
“We’ve been emphasizing defense first because we’re awfully young, and we want defense to keep us in games,” VanSkyock said.
He noted Jay County and Delta have similar athletes, so the transition from the up-tempo style run by Stan Daugherty the past four years to an emphasis with pressure on defense and a sometimes slower pace on offense isn’t a concern.
“We were always in the top 10 in defensive average, and that won us a lot of games (at Jay County),” VanSkyock said. “Your offense usually comes, but if you’re a great defensive team, you have a chance to win any game you play.
“With (the Hoosier Heritage Conference) loaded this year, that gives us our best opportunity to win.”
VanSkyock said his players are accepting of the shift in strategy. The Eagles will play up-tempo on offense against certain teams, but their focus is always being strong on defense.
“(Players) love our defensive philosophy of protecting the basket and paint, and making teams shoot contested shots,” he said. “They don’t have a lot of defensive knowledge now and we have to ingrain in them what we want. … We’re moving in the right direction.”
The Eagles will employ a three-guard lineup, with sophomore Tanner Lambert and senior Kameron Slaven holding two of the starting positions. Maurice Richardson was set to begin as the third starter but an illness has slowed his progress, VanSkyock said.
“Lambert has athleticism and shoots the ball well,” VanSkyock said. “He gives us another scoring option because Kameron Slaven is the only (significant) returning scorer. We’re looking for 8-12 points a game from (Lambert) and for him to take care of the ball.”
The coach wants Slaven to be more than a shooter this year.
“We want him to go to the hole, come off screens, and he’s our best free-throw shooter so we want him to get to the line,” VanSkyock said. “His biggest weakness is defense, but we’re working on that and he’s improved a lot.”
If Richardson hasn’t returned to full health and regained all of his stamina before today’s season-opener at home against Pendleton Heights, junior Ryley Pease will move from a backup spot in the frontcourt to start at guard.
Senior Spencer Evans also is working as a backup in the backcourt.
VanSkyock indicated Kaleb Slaven and Matt Norris are slated to start in the frontcourt. Kaleb Slaven, one of the top football players in the area, provides inside bulk at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds. The 6-7 Norris started on the JV team last year.
“Kaleb has a nice shot in the high post, and he can hit the 3,” VanSkyock said. “Norris has some good post moves. We run a lot of motion offense so they’ll be screening and working together in the post.”
Pease will provide support inside when he shifts back from guard, and seniors Peyton Masters and John Clawson will come off the bench, too.
Two other players could get in the mix as backups: sophomore Matt Pickering at guard and forward, and sophomore Rylan Sullivan at guard.