Kelly falls at home to Oak Ridge

BENTON, Mo. — It took some time, but Kelly eventually woke up from its nightmarish start against Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

However, the Hawks (8-9) were unable to dig themselves out of the early hole and fell 67-55 to the Bluejays (14-3), who have now won their past five games.

“We came out flat and didn’t do the things we needed to do,” said Kelly coach Jeremy Brinkmeyer. “We didn’t protect the paint and Ty Wilson had a tremendous game. He just took it to us no matter what we did to stop him. He’s an excellent player and we have to be better at protecting the paint, and coming out with more energy, especially in a big conference game like that.”

Kelly's Drew Klipfel (2) goes up for layup during a 67-55 loss to Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Wilson and Tyler Bishop scored the first baskets of the game to give Oak Ridge an early advantage, but Kelly answered with back-to-back inside scores from Caden Dunn and Michael Dollins to tie it 4-4.

The Bluejays responded by taking an 11-4 lead before Drew Klipfel made a tough floater to end the Hawk's scoring drought.

Kelly's Reece Eftink (25) scores on a fast break during a 67-55 loss to Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Wilson came right back with a pair of post buckets to extend the lead to 15-6, but Kelly narrowed the lead to 16-14 at the end of the first quarter after a layup and 3-pointer from Klipfel and short baseline shot from Ross Peters.

The Bluejays pushed the lead to eight points about midway through the second quarter after steal and fast break score from Bishop, but again, Kelly found a way to battle back, finishing the first half on a 7-2 run that included an inside bucket from Dunn, another 3-pointer from Klipfel and a strong take by Peters.

Oak Ridge's Tyler Bishop (10) drives by a defender during a 67-55 win at Kelly on Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“We did a good job of attacking the paint at the end of the first half,” Brinkmeyer said. “But we kind of came out flat again in the second half, and they came out swinging. We fell in love with the outside game instead of attacking. When we play on our heels we’re not very good offensively. We have to what it takes to correct that.”

Oak Ridge increased the lead to double digits for the first time with two minutes and 43 seconds left in the third quarter after a putback and jumper from Camren Volz, and ended the quarter with a 51-39 advantage after Wilson scored in the final moments.

Kelly narrowed the lead down to eight points momentarily in the final quarter but was unable to get closer than that.

Kelly's Caden Dunn (14) drives the baseline during a 67-55 loss to Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

“The main reason was turnovers,” Brinkmeyer said. “We did a terrible job of protecting the ball tonight. We made a lot of sloppy and weak passes, and a good team like Oak Ridge is going to capitalize. You’re not going to beat a good team like that when you don’t protect the ball.”

Wilson led the Bluejays with a game-high 23, while Volz had 15, Konnor Hobeck added 13 and Bishop contributed nine.

“Our point guard Tyler Bishop did a good job of handling the pressure and getting the basketball to our scorers tonight,” said Oak Ridge coach Cody Bova. “We all knew this was going to be a big game. The guys came out, handled the pressure well and shared the basketball. I couldn’t be more pleased with how hard the entire team played for the whole game. Wilson had a good first half for us, and we did a good job of getting him the basketball.”

Kelly's Drew Klipfel (2) goes up for a layup against Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Jan. 17. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Klipfel and Peters each scored 15 to lead Kelly. Reece Eftink added 11.

Both teams return to action on Friday, Jan. 20.

Kelly is on the road at Delta (4-11), while Oak Ridge will travel to Chaffee (6-10).

OAK RIDGE 67, KELLY 55

Oak Ridge 16 13 22 16 — 67

Kelly 14 12 13 16 — 55

__Oak Ridge (67) —__ Ty Wilson 23, Camren Volz 15, Konnor Hobeck 13, Tyler Bishop 9, Ahren Folge 5, Carso Hahs 2. FG 25. FT: 16-27. F: 18. (3-pointers: Hobeck 1. Fouled out Hahs, Volz.)

__Kelly (55) —__ Drew Klipfel 15, Ross Peters 15, Reece Eftink 11, Michael Dollins 7, Caden Dunn 4, Brayden Volkerding 3. FG: 21. FT: 8-15. F: 20. (3-pointers: Klipfel 2, Peters 2, Volkerding 1. Fouled out: Dunn.)