SCC girls upset top-seeded Oran

GIDEON, Mo. -- Every time Brianna Johnson went to the free-throw line Thursday night in the Class 1 District 1 championship game, a member of the Scott County Central boys basketball time cheered her on from the corner by yelling, "Take your time, Missy."

"I heard him. I think that was Delandis Gillespie," said Johnson, a Scott County senior. "Missy is my nickname. My mom started calling me that when I was a baby."

Johnson took 12 free throws in the final 1 minute, 14 seconds, hitting nine and helping the Braves pull away for a 52-41 upset win against top-seed Oran.

The victory sends Scott County Central to the Class 1 sectional game against Delta at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night in Poplar Bluff. While Delta is 22-2, the Braves will carry in a record of, "I'm not sure," coach Semona Penrod said. "It's not very good, so we lost track."

Make them 2-0 in the postseason.

The Braves grabbed control of the district final with an opening 6-1 run on a night when sloppy play and missed shots were prolific.

Other than Johnson's fourth-period flurry, the Braves were 3-of-11 from the free-throw line (27 percent).

"We played an OK game," said Johnson, who knew there was room for improvement. "Better than Oran."

Oran, which had beaten Scott County twice this season, was just 11-of-25 (44 percent). And to compound problems, the Eagles were 15-of-63 from the field and 0-of-9 on 3-pointers.

Before they made a field goal late in the first quarter, the Eagles had four turnovers, a charge and four misses.

After falling down by as many as 10 points in the second period and trailing 24-16 at the half, Oran still battled back for the lead by scoring the first 11 points of the third period.

"We went stale on offense in the third quarter, and I was beginning to get worried," Penrod said. "But we were able to pick it back up."

The Braves did it with Markita Mosley in foul trouble. Mosley had 10 points in the first half, but just one in the second.

"I got a little worried because Kita is our only big girl inside," Johnson said. "We had to keep focused and stay motivated to do it for her."

Johnson hit a shot to beat the third-period buzzer, then added a free throw and a basket off an inbounds play to help restore Scott County's lead to 38-29.

After Callie Kielhofner, who finished with a game-high 27 points, helped Oran get back within 41-37 with 2:11 to play, Brittney Jones hit a jumper for the Braves, and Johnson finished out the game from the line.

Johnson finished with 21 points, while Jones had 13.

Scott County Central 52, Oran 41

SCC 12 14 7 19 -- 52

Oran 7 11 11 12 -- 41

SCC (52) -- Iesha Turner 4, Brianna Johnson 21, Markita Mosley 11, Amanda Lawless 2, Brittney Jones 13. FG 20, FT 12-23, F 19 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Mosley)

Oran (41) -- Cheyanne King 8, Callie Kielhofner 27, Claire Seyer 2, Abbey Anderson 2, Kristie Mangels 2. FG 15, FT 11-25, F 18 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)