Oran handles Scott City 60-36 to advance to conference championship

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Some bulbs in the gym might need replacement after Oran shot lights out in a win over Scott City on Monday, Jan. 23.

The Lady Eagles (13-6) advanced to the championship game of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament for the eighth straight season with a 50-38 win over the Lady Rams (12-6).

“I’m proud of how the girls came out and played,” said Oran coach Jaysa Jenkins. “They were determined from the start, stayed out of foul trouble and executed our plan well. You could see they wanted to win, and we brought a great attitude into the game tonight.”

Oran's Emma Priggel (11) drives the basket during a 60-38 win over Scott City in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament on Monday, Jan. 23. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Oran was led by a game-high 27 points from Haley Webb. The team also knocked down eight shots from behind the 3-point line, including five by Taylor Hobbs, who chipped 17.

“We shot the ball very well” Jenkins added. “I hope we can continue to bring it like that every night. Shot selection has been a focus for us. At the beginning of the season, we liked to come down and throw up the first thing available or tried to force it inside. It’s been nice to see confidence develop throughout the team. These girls are stepping up and they're confident in themselves to do that.”

The Lady Eagles efficiently moved the ball and were patient in finding the best shot available, with 18 of the team’s 24 made field goals coming off of an assist. After all, it’s easy to rack off impressive numbers with someone as talented and skilled as Webb to feed the ball to inside.

Oran's Taylor Hobbs (12) crosses over a defender during a 60-38 win over Scott City in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament on Monday, Jan. 23. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Bralynn Morgan and Emma Priggel each finished with a game-high six assists, while Hobbs added four.

Oran finished the first quarter with a 14-8 advantage after Hobbs buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer off an assist from Priggel.

“[Hobbs] had a great game and she’s been playing very well for us,” Jenkins said. “She’s really a hard worker and will do whatever you need her to do. She’s always been a key player for us defensively, but in the last few weeks she’s stepped up offensively and had more confidence in herself.”

Oran's Bralynn Morgan tries to keep her balance while driving baseline during a 60-38 win over Scott City in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament on Monday, Jan. 23. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

The Lady Eagles extended the lead to more than 10 points after Morgan assisted Webb on a post score, and the team led 30-19 at halftime.

Oran led 43-25 at the end of the third quarter after Webb scored in transition at the buzzer off a nice outlet pass from Priggel.

Morgan assisted Webb on a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and extend the lead to more than 20 points as the Lady Eagles coasted the rest of the way to the victory.

Oran's Kendall Burger (24) tracks down a long pass during a 60-38 win over Scott City in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament on Monday, Jan. 23. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

It will be the third season in a row that Oran and Delta (16-2) have played for the conference championship when the teams meet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26. The teams split the previous two championships.

It will be the third time the teams have met this season with the Ladycats winning big in the first game, and 49-43 at Oran on Jan. 19.

Jenkins said the team has done everything possible to simulate the speed and pressure that Delta will bring to the court, including practicing against six and seven-player teams in practice.

“All these girls on both teams are familiar with each other,” Jenkins said. “But that first time we played the team was almost shellshocked. That’s understandable because Delta is great at pressure. It’s just been about doing whatever it takes to add pressure in practice. So that way it's something they have seen before and doesn’t take them far out of their comfort zone."

__ORAN 60, SCOTT CITY 36__

Scott City 8 11 6 11 — 36

Oran 14 16 13 17 — 60

__Scott City (36) —__ Makenna Gentry 10, Ramsey Spinks 7, Lilyan Landis 6, Liza Dannenmueller 4, Mackenzie Lawless 4, Gracie Karrenbrock 3, Emma Moore 2. FG: 15. FT: 5-6. F: 8. (3-pointers: Karrenbrock 1. Fouled out: none.)

__Oran (60) —__ Haley Webb 27, Taylor Hobbs 17, Grace Davis 6, Bralynn Morgan 5, Kendall Burger 3, Lily Knotts 2. FG: 24. FT: 4-6. F: 9. (3-pointers: Hobbs 5, Morgan 1, Webb 1, Burger 1. Fouled out: none.)

QUARTERFINALS

__ORAN 50, OAK RIDGE 38__

Oak Ridge 12 10 7 9 — 38

Oran 13 10 16 11 — 50

__Oak Ridge (38) —__ Reagan Howe 14, Madyson Ruehling 9, Abby Morrison 6, Madalyn Schemel 5, Katie Seabaugh 2, Makayla Rangel 2. FG: 14. FT: 10-21. F: 14. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

__Oran (50) —__ Kendall Burger 17, Haley Webb 13, Emma Priggel 9, Bralynn Morgan 6, Taylor Hobbs 5. FG: 21. FT: 5-13. F: 19. (3-pointers: Priggel 1, Hobbs 1, Webb 1. Fouled out: Webb.)

__SCOTT CITY 54, SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL 24__

SCC 10 6 6 2 — 24

Scott City 22 9 10 13 — 54

__Scott County Central (24) —__ Regan Evans 7, Kiersten Banks 6, Camcarie Perdue 4, Maddy Carlisle 3, Kyla Pearson 2, Nikki Adams 2. FG: 11. FT: 0-0. F: 17. (3-pointers: Carlisle 1, Evans 1. Fouled out: Evans.)

__Scott City (54) —__ Liza Dannenmueller 19, Mackenzie Lawless 11, Ramsey Spinks 9, Lilyan Landis 8, Gracie Karrenbrock 7. FG: 18. FT: 14-26. F: 3. (3-pointers: Dannanmueller 2, Karrenbrock 1, Spinks 1. Fouled out: none.)