Boys eke out win, advance to final four

The Oran High School boys basketball team has struggled at times the last few games but have always found a way to string together some points and defensive stops to make the margin feel a little more comfortable.  Yesterday, however, the margin was slim to none right down to the end during a state quarterfinal matchup at Three Rivers College's new Libla Family Event Center against the Portageville Bulldogs.

Oran led 9-8 after one and 24-22 at the intermission.  The score was knotted at 35 after three.  Oran scored the first four of the fourth, but the Eagles were down 44-43 with 2:02 remaining when Oran recovered a loose ball on the floor.  Langdon Scheeter alertly called for a time out allowing the Eagles to maintain possession.  The teams exchanged buckets on the next possessions and with 1:14 remaining the Bulldogs led 46-45.

On the ensuing inbounds, Oran was able to trap in the corner and force a turnover.  Scheeter hit Jacob Shoemaker who was fouled on his shot attempt.  He made the first to tie the game at 46.  He missed the second but a Portageville player stepped over the three-point line at the top of the key after Shoemaker had been given the ball allowing him another opportunity and after a swish game the Eagles had the lead 47-46.  The Bulldogs missed a shot on their possession but the rebound turned into a jump ball and the arrow pointed toward Portageville.  Todd Priggel was able to force a tie-up in the lane giving Oran the ball.  Time was ticking down and the Bulldogs were forced to foul.  Priggel hit both ends of the one and one making the score 49-46.  As Portageville was bringing the ball up court, the Eagles were going to foul, because they had not reached the bonus, but the Bulldogs called their last time out before it could happen to give them the ball down three at midcourt with 9.5 seconds left.  A contested three from the right wing was well off the mark and by the time the ball was tracked down the horn had sounded and the Eagles had escaped 49-46.

Tyson Goodale led the Eagles with 18 points, Priggel had a double-double with 14 points and 15 a team-high 15 boards. and Shoemaker had 11 including a trey.

Scheeter had four points and two assists, while Ty Johnson had a field goal.

The difference was at the line.  Oran hit 10 of 12 for 83%, while the Bulldogs were only 4 of 9 for 44%.

The Eagles outrebounded Portageville, 32-28.  The Bulldogs committed 15 turnovers, Oran had 14

The Eagles improved to 29-1 and will face the defending Class 2 champions the Van-Far Indians next Friday at 11 am at the JQH Arena on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.