Oran girls basketball team hands 60-38 loss to Meadow Heights

ORAN, Mo. -- With one of its best offensive weapons out due to injury, the Oran girls basketball team looked to Ashlyn McIntosh to guide the offense against Meadow Heights on Monday night.

The junior stepped up big for the Eagles, hitting 8 of 12 shots from the field and adding four free throws for a season-high 23 points to lead Oran to a 60-38 victory.

"We knew we had to work together as a team. I don't look at myself as the best player on this team. We're good when we play together," McIntosh said. "I knew I had to step up and help everyone out since Allie [Cummins] wasn't out there. She's usually the one to do it, but tonight it was my turn to step up."

McIntosh scored 15 points in the second half and only missed one shot over the final two quarters.

Oran coach Ethan Evans said Cummins, who is one of the Eagles' top scorers, has missed at least three games with a broken nose and is not expected to return for another two weeks.

Despite missing a main weapon on offense, Evans said he wasn't worried about how his team would perform and added that it was only a matter of time before McIntosh had a standout performance.

"It doesn't really surprise me the way Ashlyn played," Evans said. "We've been waiting on her to really have a good breakout game this year, though. She's had a few good games, but nothing like this. I've been waiting for that really great game, and she had a really good one tonight. She was fun to watch."

McIntosh was good throughout the game, and helped her team gain the lead after falling behind 5-1.

After a made free throw with 6 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter, McIntosh stole a pass on Meadow Heights' next possession and took the ball the length of the court before putting in an easy layup.

Her basket sparked a 16-0 run, which gave the Eagles a 17-5 lead with 29 seconds to play in the first.

McIntosh and juniors Tatum May and Hannah Scherer each had four points during the span.

"At the very beginning of the game, I thought we were a little sluggish," Evans said. "About two minutes into that first quarter we kind of picked it up a little bit. And from that point on I thought our defense carried us pretty much through that first quarter and for most of the game."

The Eagles forced the Panthers to commit seven turnovers and led 17-8 at the end of the opening period.

Meadow Heights' Kiana Hotop drove to the basket for a layup and added a free throw after being fouled in the final 10 seconds of the first to end the run.

Oran led for the remainder of the game but did allow Meadow Heights to get close midway through the second quarter.

Led by Emma Cook, who hit a 3-pointer and added a jumper from inside the arc, the Panthers used a 12-6 run to pull within three at 23-20.

However, the rally was short lived. Oran sophomore Brianna Stause hit a 3 to start a 13-1 run for the Eagles, which gave them a 36-21 lead at halftime.

Oran came out strong in the third, outscoring Meadow Heights 12-5.

The Panthers were limited to just eight shots in the third and also struggled to rebound.

Oran had 49 rebounds and scored many of its points off put backs in the second half.

"Our focus in practice has been on trying to get better at rebounding," Evans said. "Tonight, I thought we were good at getting position, and really I was pleased with the offensive boards as well because in the first half we didn't really hit the boards that much, but in the third and fourth quarter it really showed."

McIntosh grabbed 13 rebounds while May added 12. May also scored a season-high 12 points, and said she took more shots against the Panthers than she had all season.

"Since Allie Cummins is out, me and Ashlyn knew we had to step up," May said. "Allie was a big offensive factor for us, so we knew we had to step up and start making points. In the second half, Ashlyn was like, 'You've got to start shooting the ball,' So I did. Whether it was close or not I just tried to shoot as much as I could."

May had six rebounds in the fourth and scored four points off them and added a free throw after being fouled.

"It helped us out a lot because we're not really good at outside shots," May said. "We have a couple, maybe two outside shooters, and the rest of those are underneath. So it was important to get those rebounds and put up shots underneath that were higher percentage shots for us."

Evans said he was impressed with the way May shot the ball and rebounded and hopes the trend continues.

"Tatum is one that we have to gripe at to shoot all the time because she just won't shoot the unless she thinks she's wide open," Evans said. "She wasn't a scorer for us last year. I think she averaged about two points a game for us, and she's really playing out of position. She's not a point guard by any means, but our options are limited. Next year she'll be playing the post, but right now she's just doing whatever she can to help this team win."

Hotop finished with 13 points to lead the Panthers and Emma Cook added 11.

With perhaps their toughest string of games coming up this week, Evans knows his team will be tested, and added that he hopes the win will give the Eagles some momentum.

"We've got a tough stretch coming up," Evans said. "Our conference is pretty good at the top this year. I know we've got Kelly on Thursday and we actually added Greenville to the schedule, so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully the girls can remember this victory and the way they played, and repeat it."

Meadow Hts. 8 13 5 12 -- 38

Oran 17 19 12 12 -- 60

MEADOW HEIGHTS (38) -- Kiana Hotop 13, Emma Cook 11, Abi Bristow 8, Jacque Starkey 5, Samantha Miles. FG 13, FT 11-22, F 20 (3-pointers: Cook 1. Fouled out: Hotop, Miles.)

ORAN (60) -- Ashlyn McIntosh, Tatum May 12, Hannah Scherer 11, Kaylen Glastetter 8, Brianna Stause 6. FG 23, FT 12-23, F 16 (3-pointers: Stause. Fouled out: Glastetter.)