ORAN POSITIONS ITSELF FOR DISTRICT SUCCESS

For Oran's boys basketball team, everything seems to have fallen into place entering the Class 1A, District 2 Tournament.

The Eagles have the top seed and they have the home-court advantage as the tournament's host.

Still, Oran coach Mitch Wood isn't taking anything for granted.

"We, like most teams, think we can win it," Wood said. "But there are six teams that could come out and win this thing. A lot of teams can play each other to four or six points and at this time of the year anything can happen."

To demonstrate the parity, Advance, the No. 4 seed, took Oran the distance, losing on a last-second shot. And Delta, the eighth seed, gave Oran all it could handle.

Oran begins the tournament with an 18-8 record, and has posted two wins over Scott County Central, the No. 2 seed. The Eagles also beat Notre Dame and Kelly which are the Nos. 2 and 3 seed in the Class 2A, District 2 tournament.

Oran enters the tournament coming off a tough loss at Kelly, but Wood said things are looking up.

"We've had some losses lately," he said. "But we're playing well. We're getting over some injuries and we're hopefully ready to play. We're going in with confidence. We just need to keep the scores down and play good defense.

"It's always nice to have the home-court advantage."

Oran earned the top seed in the nine-team field, followed by Scott County Central, No. 3, Bernie, No. 4 Advance, No. 5 Risco, No. 6 Richland, No. 7 Bell City, Delta and No. 9 Zalma.

Zalma and Delta will get the tournament under way Saturday when they battle at 1 p.m. for the right to take on Oran at 4 p.m. Monday.

Other first-round games Monday include Scott Central and Bell City (5:30 p.m.); Risco and Advance (7 p.m.); and Bernie and Richland (8:30 p.m.) The first semifinal game will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday with the other to immediately follow. The championship game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

1A, District 3

In Class 1A, District 3 action at Fredericktown, No. 8 Oak Ridge will play No. 9 Kingston at 6:30 p.m. Saturday to see which team plays No. 1 Viburnum at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

On Monday, second-seeded South Iron will play No. 7 Meadow Heights at 8 p.m.

No. 5 Marquand will play No. 4 Leopold at 6:30 Tuesday, followed by No. 3 St. Vincent and No. 6 Valle at 8 p.m.

"I think it's a pretty wide open tournament," said St. Vincent coach Bruce Valleroy. "I think several teams could win it. We feel like we've got as good a chance as anybody."

The semifinal games will be held on Thursday, with the upper bracket to tip off at 6 p.m. and the other to follow. The championship game will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

GIRLS

In District 2, Scott Central earned the top seed in the four-team tournament. It will play No. 4 Oran in the opening round/semifinal at 4 p.m. Saturday. No. 2 Delta will face No. 3 Risco in the other game at 2:30 Saturday. The championship game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.

There are five girl teams in District 3.

Valle is the No. 1 seed and will play the winner of fourth-seeded South Iron and No. 5 Kingston at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

The other semifinal will pit No. 2 Viburnum and No. 3 St. Vincent.

The championship game will be at 6 p.m. Friday.