Oran girls basketball team wins its second district title

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Two years ago the Oran girls basketball team didn't have enough healthy players on its roster to field a team for much of the season.

Last year the Eagles were beaten soundly 64-46 by Bismarck in the opening round of their district tournament.

This year Oran is a district champion. The Eagles defeated Bismarck 58-54 on Thursday at Chaffee High School to win the Class 2 District 3 championship, just the second district title in the program's history and first since 2000.

"We got tougher," second-year Oran coach Ethan Evans said about his team's remarkable and rapid improvement. "We added a little bit tougher presence inside than what we had last year. We got a few more girls out who could come in and spell some people whenever they needed it, and basically one of our starters and our sixth man grew up from being freshmen last year to sophomores last year."

The Eagles (18-9) were anxious for a rematch with Bismarck and had discussed handing the Indians a district loss this time around.

"Yes, all the time," senior Christan Sauceda said. "Coach even said in the locker room, 'All of us have been thinking about this game the entire year. All of us.'"

The Eagles trailed throughout most of the first quarter before scoring six points in the final 28 seconds of the period. They were just 5 of 18 from the field in the quarter but forced 10 Bismarck turnovers.

"That's kind of normal for us," Evans said. "We usually don't shoot the ball real well. We do at times, but we focus on causing a lot of turnovers, causing a lot of pressure and trying to get to the rim and getting fouls. We didn't make free throws tonight very much, but just getting to the line and getting them into foul trouble."

The teams were tied 24-24 at halftime, but the Eagles separated themselves at the end of the third by finishing the quarter on an 11-3 run.

Oran senior Addie Kielhofner provided one of the highlights of the game at the end of the quarter when she fell to her knees fighting to make a steal at half court. She couldn't gain control of the ball and Bismarck made a pass under the basket just before the buzzer. Kielhofner raced back and blocked the shot from behind to maintain her team's lead and provide a spark for her team, which celebrated the play heading to the huddle.

"I was on my knees and I saw her again, and I'm just like 'Ah,'" said Kielhofner with exasperation in her voice. "But then, you know, I trust my team to pick it back up. I'm all over the court all the time, and it just happens."

The Eagles led for the entirety of the fourth quarter, but the process of sealing the victory wasn't easy.

Three Oran players missed the front ends of one-and-one opportunities at the free throw line with less than two minutes remaining and the Eagles holding a three-point lead.

Bismarck missed a shot after rebounding the first miss then Kielhofner forced a jump ball on the second that gave the ball back to Oran and rebounded the third miss. Eventually the Eagles made five of their final six free throws to close out the win.

"I've got triplets, so every day takes years off my life," Evans said of the stressful finish. "I did think that last minute lasted about five hours."

The district title was the second of the year for most of the Eagles players, who captured a softball district title in the fall and advanced to the state quarterfinals.

"It feels great," Kielhofner said. "All year we've been working so hard to do this. Our attitude really rolled off from softball. We were really looking forward to getting another district title in a sport that we love. We were just trying to get another district title, and we knew that we could do it this year."

Oran will face the winner of tonight's Class 2 District 4 championship game between New Haven and Elsberry in the state sectional round on Wednesday.

Bismarck 13 11 14 16 -- 54

Oran 14 10 22 12 -- 58

BISMARCK (54) -- Savannah Tate 4, Alyssa Sago 10, Brilee Henson 22, Bailey Barton 2, Darcy Latham 9. FG 23, FT 4-6, F 21. (3-pointers: Sago 2, Henson 1, Latham 1. Fouled out: Tate, Sago)

ORAN (58) -- Addie Kielhofner 18, Ashlyn McIntosh 2, Taylor Nenninger 15, Allie Cummins 9, Tatum May 2, Christan Sauceda 12. FG 21, FT 12-24, F 12. (3-pointers: Nenninger 1, Sauceda 3. Fouled out: none)