Varsity boys lose first game of the season

The Oran High School boys basketball teams split their road conference games last night in East Prairie.  This time, however, it was the junior varsity that picked up a win, 58-37 and the varsity tasted defeat for the first time, losing 68-59.

In the opener, the younger team led by five at the half, 34-29.  They outscored their hosts 24-8 during the final two periods to cruise to the 21 point victory.

Coach Joe Shoemaker said, "I thought the JV played well.  We did a better job of fronting the post and controlling the boards.  We also did a good job of moving and sharing the basketball.  We have played better since that loss to Scott City and will have a tough opponent in Saxony in the championship of the Advance JV Tournament (on Thursday at 7:45).

 Ty Johnson topped all scorers with 21, nine of which came from beyond the arc.  He was also six of six from the free throw line.  Langdon Scheeter was also in double-digits with 12.  He hit one trey.

Cooper Priggel and Tristin Schlosser both scored seven.  Priggel hit one three-pointer.  Evan Montgomery hit a trey to account for his three points.  Kaiden Massey, Dane Shands, Miles Trankler and Cameron Massey scored two apiece.

The team was 10 of 15 from the line for 66.7%.  They improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Scott-Miss.

The nightcap saw Oran win the first quarter 16-13, but they lost the next three enrout to the nine-point loss.  It was Oran's fifth-straight setback against East Prairie.

Coach Shoemaker commented, "You could tell that we had some people in spots that they haven’t been in before in a close game.  This will help us out in the end especially when we get Cole back.  I think we gave East Prairie too many points off of offensive rebounds and run outs.  We will work on this in the next practice.  They did a good job of going to a diamond and one in the second half on defense and I will have our team better prepared for that the next time we see it.   I was proud that our boys were able to control heir emotions and continue to do things the right way even when we got down at the end of the game."

Todd Priggel scored 19 to lead Oran.  Jacob Shoemaker added 16, all but four coming in the first half.  Layne Johnson had 10.  Both Johnson and Shoemaker hit a trey.

Drew Reischman and Tyson Goodale had eight and six, respectively.

As a team, they hit 9-12 from the line for 75%.  They are now 4-1 and 1-1.

After the junior varsity completes the Advance tournament, both squads will be back in action next Tuesday for another road conference match up, this time at Delta.  Tip time is 6 pm.