Varsity boys end week with win

As last nights' feature game against the visiting St. Vincent Indians started it looked as if the Eagles were completely drained from Thursday night's overtime loss to Woodland on the road.

Oran started out with back to back turnovers, gave up open looks and were playing uninspired basketball.  They found themselves down 10-4 just two minutes into the game when Head Coach Joe Shoemaker knew a time-out was needed.

During that time-out, the team was told, according to both Layne Johnson and Blake Schlitt, that if they didn't start playing betting and increase their intensity they should prepare for "a very long practice!".

The thirty-second motivational speech appartly worked, because after the break the Eagles notched up the defensive pressure forcing St. Vincent up-tempo, a style that is not their forte.  Oran took control from there on out cruising to a 72-56 non-conference victory.

The first quarter ended with the Eagles leading 19-17 after a Jacob Shoemaker three with just over 1 second remaining.

The second frame started started with a Johnson trey and a steal and a lay up by Max Priggel and the lead was 24-17 and the Indians called time-out.  The onslaught continued, however, as Oran took a 42-23 lead into the locker room at half-time.

St. Vincent came out in a press of their own to start the second half.  They cut the lead to 46-33 before a lay up by Garrison Mangels and an old-fashioned three-point play by Johnson had the lead back up to 51-33 and the Indians pulled off the press with three minutes left in the third.  The Eagles led 58-37 heading into the fourth.

A sloppy final period saw the final margin slip to 16.

Max Priggel was the game's leading scorer with 21.  He hit one trey and was 4 for 4 from the line.  Shoemaker and Johnson both hit for 16.  Shoemaker had 2 three's and Johnson 1. Johnson was 3 of 3 from the charity stripe.  Mangels had 12 point.

Drew Reischman scored 4 and Preston Hahn added 2.  Blake Schlitt had a single tally.

Luke Barnes and Wyatt Kinney played but did not score.

Oran was 14 out of 19 from the charity stripe for 73.6%.

Junior Varsity

During the opening match-up, the Eagles fell behind early and never recovered.

They were down 22-6 after one and 36-15 at the break.  They ended up losing 72-45.

Jon Shipley was Oran's leading scorer with 14.  He hit 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Drew Reischman scored 8, Ben Fox and Peyton McVay added 6 apiece.  Denver Efrink tallied 5.  William Kluesner and Joey Phillips both had 4 points.

Bradley Brooks, Avery Mitchem and Calen Read logged minutes but did not score.

The Eagles were  3 of 8 from the free throw line for 37.5%

The junior varsity is now 3-8 and will be in action on Monday during the boys Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Scott City.  They are the 4th seed and will take on the 5th seed Oak Ridge Blue Jays at 6 pm.

The varsity improved to 9-7.  They will play on Tuesday at 7:45.  they too, are seeded fourth and will face the Chaffee Red Devils.