Lady Eagles continue conference dominance

The Oran Lady Eagles picked up two first-place plaques last night during the championship games of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Scott City.  The junior varsity won its second straight league tourney title, defeating the Chaffee Lady Devils 34-16.  The varsity rolled to its third conference crown in a row with an 81-40 win over Scott County Central.

The prospects for the younger Eagles looked as bleak as the weather as Oran trailed 7-1 after the first period.

Mallory Lowes scored eight of her game-high 16 points during the second quarter and they took a 16-8 lead into the halftime locker room.

Coach Ethan Evans said, "It was awesome to see this group of girls respond the way they did after the 1st quarter. They moved the ball well against their press and played defense and rebounded very well."

Oran continued to expand its lead on its way to the 18 point victory.

Lowes hit three treys and was 3 of 3 from the line.

Kennedi McVay finished with eight points.  Savannah Below and Heather Gosche both added five.  Below had a three-pointer included in her total.

The Eagles were 6 of 11 at the free throw line for 55%.

They are now 4-0.

Last year they defeated East Prairie 42-38 in the championship.

As the temperature plummeted outside, the varsity Eagles heated it up inside as played the best they had in the last couple of weeks.

Oran led 20-15 after the first eight minutes but carried a 41-19 lead into the intermission.  The Eagles won the second half 40-21 with a running fourth-quarter clock to complete the 41 point scalping of the Bravettes.

Leah Cauble and Jessie Long both recorded double-doubles.  Cauble had 36 points and 16 rebounds while Long scored 18 and grabbed 10 boards.  Katelyn Streeter and Kaylee Payne each added 12.  Streeter hit two three's and Payne one.

Payne and Claire Ramsey had three assists apiece.  Ramsey totaled her points on a three-pointer.

Long and Ramsey had three steals each.

Coach Evans said, "The girls finally got back to playing Lady Eagle basketball. They were flying up and down the floor and really got after it on the defensive end. The effort on both ends of the floor was outstanding."

They were 25 of 68 from inside the arc for 66% and 6 of 20 from beyond for 30%.  At the free throw line, they were 13-19 for 68%.

The varsity improved to 10-3.

Both teams will be back in action on Monday at 6 pm when the Eagles host the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders.

Earlier in the school year, the 7th and 8th-grade teams won the regular season conference titles going undefeated in league play.  The 8th-grade won the conference tourney while the 7th grade finished as runner-up.