Elijah Shoemaker’s career night leads Oran over Bell City in OIT

ORAN, Mo. — In a shooting exhibition that would make even the most hardened defenders weep, Oran bombarded Bell City with an unstoppable onslaught of long-range daggers, burying the fifth-seeded Cubs (0-1) under a mountain of points en route to securing a 73-30 victory in the opening round of the 68th Annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

The fourth-seeded Eagles (1-0) unveiled a three-point shooting clinic, led by Elijah Shoemaker's nine outside shots, a performance that ranks 32nd all-time in Missouri high school basketball history. Shoemaker's sharpshooting was complemented by Nolan Loper's perfect 6-for-6 performance from behind the arc, as the team rained down a total of 16 three-pointers, a mark that also ranks 32nd all-time in state history.

“We shoot those every single day in practice and we are confident in those shots,” said Elijah Shoemaker, who tallied a game-high 33 points and single-handedly outscored the opposition. “We just tried to control the tempo, stay relentless on defense and always try our best.”

Oran's Nolan Loper (31) shoots during a 73-30 win over Bell City in the opening round of the 68 Annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Oran's scorching start set the tone for the entire game. Loper, the team's hot hand, led the charge, draining five of his long-range shots in the first quarter alone. Elijah Shoemaker, not to be outdone, added back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute of the period, sending the Eagle faithful into a frenzy.

By the end of the first quarter, Oran had built a 29-8 lead, leaving Bell City stunned and in disbelief.

“It felt amazing to come out in front of all these fans and show them what a No. 4 seed could do,” said Loper, who added 22 points.

Oran's Cooper Senciboy (11) drives during a 73-30 win over Bell City in the opening round of the 68 Annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Oran carried their momentum into the second quarter. Their shots continued to fall, a testament to their exceptional ball movement and unselfish passing. Elijah Shoemaker silenced the Cubs' hopes with another three-pointer at the buzzer, sending the Eagles into the break with a commanding 44-11 lead.

“They played with a lot of energy for it being the first game of the year,” said Oran coach Joe Shoemaker. “I was proud of the effort. They’ve put some work in during the offseason and it showed tonight. It was nice to hit shots. It makes my job easier. They’ve gotten the reps up, so kudos to them for doing that. It’s paying off.”

Oran's ball movement was the epitome of cohesion, a symphony of passes that left Bell City defenders scrambling. Every shot seemed to be the result of a selfless play, the ball moved effortlessly from player to player, zipping around the perimeter.

Oran's Kole Burger (23) shoots during a 73-30 win over Bell City in the opening round of the 68 Annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“This team does that well,” said coach Shoemaker. “They play well together and they’re unselfish. Whoever is hot, gets more shots and they have all bought into that.”

As the game progressed, the Eagles’ lead continued to balloon, reaching a commanding 51-point advantage by the fourth quarter. With victory assured, Oran substituted its starters, allowing their bench players to gain valuable experience and showcase their skills.

“Everyone had great energy on defense,” said coach Shoemaker. “They were unselfish, setting screens and moving the ball, but we have some things to improve on. We’re not very big, so we have to work on blocking out, rebounding, help-side defense and overall communication. It’s always nice to play well but we have a long road and a lot of things to work on.”

Oran advances to play top-seeded Kelly (1-0) in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m., while Bell City faces eighth-seeded Westwood Baptist (0-1) in the consolation bracket at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30

__ORAN 73, BELL CITY 30__

Bell City 8 2 11 9 — 30

Oran 29 15 26 1 — 73

Bell City (30) — Baylor Eftink 10, Dawson Loomes 8, Drew Roberts 7, Kyle Irvin 3, Brandon Grimes 2. FG: 7. FT: 7-10. F: 13. (3-pointers: Eftink 2, Roberts 1. Fouled out: none).

Oran (73) — Elijah Shoemaker 33, Nolan Loper 22, Copper Senciboy 5, Brenden Campbell 3, Kole Burger 3, Parker Bryant 3, Carson Kern 2, Nate Pobst 2. FG: 26. FT: 5-8. F: 14. (3-pointers: Shoemaker 9, Loper 6, Campbell 1. Fouled out: none).