SCOTT CITY STOPS ORAN FOR SCOTT-MISS. CROWN

BENTON -- It took some full-court pressure and a big spurt by all-stater Jon Beck to lift Scott City High's boys basketball team to the championship of the Scott-Mississippi County Conference Tournament Friday night.

The top-seeded Rams trailed second-seeded Oran 37-34 late in the third quarter. But Scott City scored 11 of the period's final 13 points -- eight of them from Beck -- and the Rams were on their way to a 69-58 victory.

Scott City, ranked fourth in the state in Class 2A, improved to 15-2 while Class 1A Oran fell to 10-5.

"At the end of the third quarter I thought the momentum really switched with our press," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "Our trap really did a good job, we got some turnovers and were able to convert."

Oran coach Mitch Wood saw the same thing.

"Their press hurt us," he said. "You have to give them credit because they put good pressure on us."

Beck, a senior guard who has already signed to play for Arkansas State, scored a game-high 27 points, 16 coming in the second half, including 10 in the third quarter.

Ryan Weatherspoon, a 6-foot-6 junior center, scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Weatherspoon had 11 points in the second half.

Lance Amick added 11 points and he hit seven of eight free throws, including all four of his attempts in the final period. Ronald Watson contributed 10 points.

"Jon was incredible off the dribble. He's just so quick," McCord said. "Spoon is playing so big, Lance came up big at the free-throw line and Ron (five assists, five steals) really made some big plays."

Oran got 17 points from Daniel Wheeler, 12 from Chris Nichols and 10 from Jerod Hamm.

"It's disappointing to lose, but we had a good tournament," said Wood. "I think we're just a pass or shot away from being a real good team."

Scott City started out strong and led 14-4 in the early going. But Oran pulled to within 15-11 after one quarter and the teams went to their locker rooms at halftime deadlocked at 26-26.

Oran grabbed its biggest lead of the night when Hamm's basket made it 37-34 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.

But that's when Scott City -- led by Beck -- exploded. Beck's 15-footer with two minutes left tied the contest at 37. Just nine seconds later, Beck scored a layup after a steal to put the Rams ahead for good at 39-37. Another Beck steal and layup made it 41-37 and Beck's driving shot with 30 seconds remaining gave the Rams a 45-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Watson scored a layup after a great pass from Weatherspoon to start the final period as the Rams went ahead 47-39. Just seconds later, David Enderle got a layup after a Watson steal to make it 49-39. Oran never got closer than seven points again and Scott City led by as many as 16 down the stretch.

"You have to give Oran credit," said McCord. "Mitch really does a good job with them and they play hard. I think they'll be a real factor in 1A."

Kelly won a thrilling JV championship game, beating Scott County Central 64-61 in overtime.

Scott Central's Ronnie Mills forced the extra period with a driving 15-foot bank shot at the buzzer.

Billy Lofton led Kelly with 16 points while Matt Seabaugh and Josh Glastetter both had 14. Mills and Chris Johnson each scored 18 for Scott Central while Fred Rowe had 15.