JHGB split conference games at home

Alyssa Spane takes an inbounds pass from Hope Woodfin
during last night's game against East Prairie.

The Oran Junior High School girls basketball team hosted a couple of very aggressive East Prairie Eagles teams last night.  At times the contests looked more like soccer games with all the turnovers and take-a-ways near mid-court.  The seventh grade fell 21-20, while the eighth grade picked up a 36-29 victory.

In the opener, the seventh grade led for the first 23 minutes of the game, albeit by a slim margin.

After one, it was 6-4 and at the half, 10-8.

Oran doubled that lead after three 16-12.

When the home team scored the first 4 points of the fourth quarter it looked like the Eagles were on

Samantha Welter looks for an open team mate.

their way to a victory.  But, East Prairie would score the last 9 points of the game, taking the lead in the final minute, to come away with  a one-point win.

Oran was 0-4 from the free-throw line on the evening.

Post-game, Coach Ethan Evans said, "The 7th grade played hard but needs more girls to step up and help at the end of games. We need to get tougher both mentally and physically."

Mallory Lowes had 12 to lead her team, now 1-2 in conference and 1-2 overall.  Alyssa Spane had 4 points while Rylee Boshell and Kara Phillips had a bucket apiece.

The older girls had a difficult time trying to rebound against a much larger (in both height and girth) East Prairie team, but were still able to come away with a 7 point victory.

Lyndsi Bryant prepares for a
free throw attempt.

The Eagles stretched a one-point first quarter lead (9-8) to a 10 point half-time lead (24-14), thanks in large part to the hot shooting of Taylor Lowes.  Lowes scored 12 of her team high 16 points during the first 12 minutes.

Oran was out-scored by a 15-12 margin in the second half but the Eagles hit 5 of their 8 free throws in the final quarter to seal the win.

Said Coach Evans, "The 8th grade played well against a much taller opponent. They showed they weren't scared to take the ball inside and hit some clutch free throws down the stretch."

Lowes scored 16, including 2 from behind the arc. Samantha Welter scored 7, including one three-pointer.  Heather Gosche had 6,  Mallory Lowes added 4, while Lyndsi Bryant chipped in 3.

The eighth grade Eagles hit 7 of 18 free throws and improved their record to 2-1 and 3-1 respectively.

Oran will be back in action on Tuesday when they Scott County Central at 6 pm.