JV boys advance in Advance

The junior varsity boys basketball team faced a tall task last night as the #2 seed Eagles faced off against the #3 seed Perryville Pirates. Their opponent had 5 players listed on their roster standing at six foot or taller.  Oran has 2 and none listed taller that six foot.  But the Eagles managed to claw their way to a two point victory on a buzzer beater by Ben Fox 44-42.

Oran trailed by 10 points after the first seven minutes 12-2 and things did not look good.

By half-time, the lead was six at 24-18.

The teams played even during the third, Perryville led 32-26.

With 4:09 left the Pirates were up 36-28, but Fox scored 11 of his game high 20 during the frame and helped lead the comeback.  With 2:27 left Joey Phillips hit two free throws to make it 36-32.  Drew Reischman made two free shots with 1:03 left to close the game to 38-36.

The score was 42-38 Pirates with 30 seconds left when Ben Fox drained a three to cut the margin to 1.

Forced to foul, the Eagles got the ball back after rebounding the second of two missed Perryville free throws.  Fox was fouled and made one of two to tie the score at 42 with 13 ticks left.

After a time out the Pirates took the ball up the right side, Fox picked up the turnover just on the Perryville side of half-court and took the ball to the hoop and scored on the contested left-handed lay up as the buzzer sounded.

Oran was 6 of 11 from the line during that final period and 9 of 15 on the night for 60%.

In addition to Fox's 20, two more reached double figures, Joey Phillips and Drew Reischman both added 11 and both had a three-pointer.

Calen Read had 2.

Bradley Brooks, William Kluesner and Peyton McVay logged minutes, but did not score.

The jv Eagles are 2-2 and after a regular season contest tonight at East Prairie, will take on the number four seed Bloomfield Wildcats in the championship game of the Advance tourney on Thursday at 7:45.