C2D3: St. Vincent wins OT thriller to end Oran's reign

ADVANCE, Mo. — It took overtime and surviving a second-half rally, but St. Vincent was able to wrestle the Class 2, District 3 crown from the Oran Eagles with a thrilling 63-55 win Saturday afternoon.

Oran had won nine-straight district championships and knocked St. Vincent out of the district in the last four district tournaments, but the Lady Indians, who start three sophomores, a freshman and a junior, refused to roll over.

“We knew coming down to this place and playing Oran it would be a heck of a game because they have a heck of a bunch of girls that know how to play,” said St. Vincent coach Mel Kirn. “But our girls are young, and they don’t quit.”

St. Vincent players and coaches celebrate after winning the Class 2, District 3 championship Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

After leading much of the first half and third quarter by double digits,

Oran began mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter.

Trailing 44-35, Oran began to find momentum and finally took the lead with 17.5 seconds remaining when Kendall Burger hit two free throws to put the Eagles up 54-53.

Oran senior Haley Webb hugs Kendall Burger after falling to St. Vincent in the Class 2, District 3 championship Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

St. Vincent missed a layup with 10 seconds remaining, but Oran turned the ball over at halfcourt with 3.2 seconds remaining to give the Lady Indians one more chance.

After a timeout, St. Vincent went to inbound the ball, and sophomore Alexandra Patrick was fouled on the inbounds attempt. After missing her first free throw, Patrick drained the second to tie the game at 54-54.

“I just told her to relax and have fun because that’s what it is all about,” Kirn said. “Ally’s one of our best players. She’s one of the tough girls that really work hard for us. She’s one of our leaders, as a matter of fact, she’s our leading scorer.”

Oran players watch as St. Vincent celebrates winning the Class 2, District 3 championship Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

Oran had one last chance as Haley Webb hit a shot, but it was after the buzzer had sounded, sending the game into overtime.

Despite Oran having all the momentum heading into the extra frame, St. Vincent dominated the overtime.

“I told them to just come out and keep playing our game,” Kirn said.

St. Vincent's Alexandra Patrick drives through the Oran defense in the Class 2, District 3 championship game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

While Oran struggled to make a shot in the overtime, St. Vincent took advantage of going to the free throw line. Patrick made 5 of 10 free throws but the biggest points came from Cailyn Prost. The junior buried a three-pointer with 2:30 remaining to put the Lady Indians up 59-54 and send Oran into scramble mode.

“This will make our girls better going on,” Kirn said. “Because this was a pressure situation, and they hadn’t been in a big pressure situation yet.”

Oran could only manage one free throw from Webb in the overtime. The senior finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

St. Vincent's Lana Adams pulls up for a shot against Oran in the Class 2, District 3 championship game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

“We’re gonna miss her,” said Oran coach Jaysa Jenkins. “She has stepped up and been such a leader for us this year. She’s our energy.”

Webb single-handedly kept the Eagles in the game in the second quarter scoring all nine of Oran’s points. She had 13 of the team’s 16 first-half points as the team struggled with St. Vincent’s press, turning the ball over 14 times as the Lady Indians built a 29-16 halftime lead.

“Our defense leads into our offense,” Kirn said. “Our girls, from day one, want to get in there and press and hustle because it opens up a lot of things for us. We’ve got a fast little team. We’re not tall but we’re quick and we get into people’s faces and try to make them do something they’re not capable of doing.”

St. Vincent's Haley Emmendorfer drives to the basket against Oran in the Class 2, District 3 championship game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

Jenkins said she thought her team might struggle with the pressure.

“We struggle with pressure,” Jenkins said. “We’ve been working on their pressure for probably a week or so preparing for this. Especially when you come out in a big game with nerves, energy, I think a team that applies pressure as they do, it throws you for a little bit.”

Despite the loss, Jenkins said she was proud of her team’s effort.

Oran's Emma Priggel passes the ball against St. Vincent in the Class 2, District 3 championship game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

“I think there wasn’t a minute of this game they weren’t giving full effort,” Jenkins said. “I’ve been preaching to them that if we gave 110% effort the entire game we would win or at least be right there, and that’s what we did.”

Oran finishes the year 16-10 and will lose Webb along with fellow seniors Grace Davis, Taylor Hobbs, and Emma Priggel. Davis finished the game with 7 points and 15 rebounds while Hobbs and Priggel both ended with five points.

St. Vincent (24-3) was led by Haley Emmendorfer who finished with 15 points. Patrick added 13 while Lana Adams and Rylee Robinson both chipped in 12 points.

Oran's Grace Davis is defended by St. Vincent in the Class 2, District 3 championship game Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Advance, Missouri. (David Jenkins photo)

St. Vincent will play in the Class 2 sectional Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Park Hills.

__ST. VINCENT 63, ORAN 55__

Oran 7 9 19 19 1 — 55

St. Vincent 11 18 15 10 9 — 63

ORAN (55) — Haley Webb 30, Grace Davis 7, Bralynn Morgan 6, Emma Priggel 5, Taylor Hobbs 5, Kendall Burger 2. FG 18, FT 11-17, F 25. (3-pointers: Webb 3, Davis 1, Hobbs 1, Morgan 1, Priggel 1. Fouled out: Davis, Morgan, Webb)

ST. VINCENT (63) — Haley Emmendorfer 15, Alexandra Patrick 13, Lana Adams 12, Rylee Robinson 12, Cailyn Prost 9, Mallory Patrick 2. FG 21, FT 12-29, F 20. (3-pointers: Emmendorfer 4, Robinson 4, Prost 1. Fouled out: Adams, M. Patrick)