Basketball Recap: Delaney Betzner Key Part of a Team Effort in Braves Win

Maconaquah hadn't done well against Western recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Thursday. The Maconaquah Braves walked away with a 56-45 win over the Western Panthers. For the Braves, this counts as revenge for the 52-21 victory the Panthers walked away with the last time they faced one another back in November of 2023.

Maconaquah's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Delaney Betzner led the charge by going 6 for 14 en route to 18 points and five steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Aubrey Stoll, who posted 12 points along with six assists and five steals.

Western's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of Ellyse Walden, who went 6 of 13 on her way to 17 points and eight rebounds, and Cheyenne Smith, who had 11 points and seven boards. That's the most rebounds Smith has posted since back in November of 2024.

Maconaquah's record is now 10-6. As for Western, their loss ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 7-12.

Maconaquah wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next matchup, a 54-37 win against Mississinewa on the 18th. As for Western, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the Western Panthers challenge the Northwestern Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.