WINCHESTER, Ind. — Outside of the game, Delta's Brady Hunt and Winchester's Payton Sparks were cordial. The two Ball State commits — Hunt in football and Sparks in basketball — grinned as they fist-bumped before the opening tip and found each other to shake hands after the final whistle had blown.
But in the 32 minutes that saw Delta comeback to beat Winchester 49-46, the two were relentless. In the first two quarters, it seemed as though every time Sparks scored, Hunt would respond with a bucket of his own.
And neither backed down. Even when Sparks blocked one of Hunt's shots, Hunt would attack the rim again the following possession.