PHOTOS BY RACHEL NAGEL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
DEFENSIVE PRESSURE … Patrick Henry’s Carys Crossland picks up her dribble as Addison Wyse and Anna Lohman put on a double team. VIEW 247 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
NWOAL CLASH … Delta’s Keagyn Gillen draws contact on a shot last Thursday at Patrick Henry.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
HAMLER (February 5, 2026) – A year ago, Patrick Henry traveled to Delta with a NWOAL title on the line and walked away with a 62-44 win.
The scenario was the same on Thursday night as this time Delta entered “The House Heat” looking for payback. Very similar to last season, the Patriots shook off a slow start to roll the Panthers 67-37 to clinch a share of the league title.
Delta super sophomore Anna Lohman tallied the first two buckets and Abbey Todd canned a triple from the left corner as the Panthers took a 7-2 lead.
It was a 12-6 scoring run by the Patriots to close the quarter as they began to take control. After a Kynli Crossland foul shot briefly tied the score at 11, Todd knocked down a three-ball from the corner to put Delta up 14-11.
Ada Christman ended the first quarter with a spin and score in the lane and then had a bucket to begin the second as Patrick Henry reclaimed the lead at 15-14.
Delta responded with a three-pointer by McKenzie Kruger and a hoop by Lohman for a 19-16 advantage before the Patriots first big scoring run of the night.
Ella Christman started a 12-0 run with an offensive rebound field goal, Meyta Hieber hit a three and got a layup, and Carys Crossland ended the run with a trey from the left side to push the lead to 28-19.
Todd would hit her third trifecta of the first half to briefly stem the tide, but Ella Christman added another offensive rebound bucket for the Patriots to give them a 32-22 lead at halftime.
The Patriots hit the gas to start the third with an 11-2 run. Sophie Guelde opened the half with a triple followed by an Ella Christman score for a 37-22 lead.
Keagyn Gillen answered with a basket for Delta, but Carys Crossland bagged a triple from the top of the key and Kynli Crossland would get a steal and layup as the lead ballooned to 43-24.
Patrick Henry’s lead was 49-29 entering the final frame where they outscored Delta 18-8 in the frame, increasing their lead to 31 points (65-34) at one point.
In the final three quarters, the Patriots outscored Delta 54-23 and hit 46 percent of their shots compared to 31 percent for Delta.
Patrick Henry’s size advantage was reflected in the final stats. The Patriots owned a 43-24 advantage on the glass and recorded nine blocks as a team.
Ada Christman stuffed the stat sheet for Patrick Henry with 19 points, 13 rebounds and a team-high six blocks. Carys Crossland connected on three triples and also had 19 for the Patriots.
The Panthers finished the night 15-for-45 from the floor for 33 percent and committed 24 turnovers, 22 coming in the last three quarters. Lohman and Todd fronted Delta (16-4, 5-1 NWOAL) with nine points each.
Patrick Henry (16-3, 6-0 NWOAL) will have a shot at the outright crown this Thursday when they travel to Archbold (17-4, 5-1 NWOAL) for their NWOAL finale.
DELTA (37) – Lohman 9; Todd 9; Kruger 5; Martinez 0; A. Gillen 0; Mohring 3; Wyse 2; K. Gillen 9; Hilyard 0; Totals: 11-4-3 – 37
PATRICK HENRY (67) – Hieber 9; C. Crossland 19; Almanza 0; Mullins 0; Weber 2; Guelde 3; Schwiebert 0; E. Christman 6; A. Christman 19; Kuesel 0; K. Crossland 9; Totals: 21-5-10 – 67
DHS 14 8 7 8 – 37
PHHS 13 19 17 18 – 67