Lady Eagles advance to title game

The number-one seeded Oran High School girls basketball team picked up a convincing win over the fourth-seeded Valle Catholic Warriors last night, 86-38, in a quarterfinal matchup of the Class 2, District 2 tournament at the Perry Park Center in Perryville.

The Eagles led 13-1 with under two minutes gone in the first when Valle took its first timeout.  The score was 25-7 after one.  The Warriors kept it manageable at the break, 48-27, thanks in large part by knocking down five long-range three's, three of which were banked in.

Oran put the game out of reach in the third by going on a 30-3 onslaught. After a turbo-clock fourth where every Eagle available played,  Oran picked up the 48 point victory.

Coach Ethan Evans said, "I thought our pressure really caused them fits in the 1st quarter, which was a good thing because we didn’t shoot it real well at least from 3. In the 2nd we got a little tired and gave up way too many points. At halftime, we decided to back up the press some and that worked in our favor."

Leah Cauble recorded a double-double with 35 points, which included three treys, and 11 boards.   She had four assists.   Jessie Long was a force inside picking up 21.  She also connected on a three-pointer.  Long had eight rebounds.  Kaylee Payne had 12 points and five steals.

Claire Ramsey knocked down two from beyond the arc for her six points and dished out four assists.  Katelyn Streeter had four points.  Both Mallory Lowes and Madison Ramsey hit three-pointers and Katie Webb had two points.

The Eagles were 28 of 46 from inside the arc for 61% and 8 of 23 from beyond for 35%.  At the free throw line, they hit a disappointing 6 of 13 for 46%.

Oran will face number two seed Chaffee on Thursday at 6 pm in the championship game.

For the Eagles, they will be looking for their fifth-straight district crown.  Last year they defeated the Red Devils 62-48 for the right to advance, but in that game, Oran trailed by five in the second quarter and had to rally.

Earlier this season, the Eagles defeated Chaffee in the championship of the Lady Devil Invitational 51-46 and then Oran won at home 93-48.

The Red Devils moved on to their fourth straight finals appearance with a 58-24 win over number-three St. Vincent.  Chaffee's season has ended the last two years in the title game.

Photo gallery from semoball is located here.