Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament: Gloth, Lowery team up to lead Scott City over Oran

For a team filled with upperclassmen, it was the underclassmen who led the way for Scott City.

Sophomore Jackson Gloth and freshman Kaden Lowery combined to score 26 points and led the Rams to a 64-50 win over Oran in the first round of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the Show Me Center.

Gloth scored a team-high 14 points and Lowery added 12 points on a night where 9 different Scott City players scored a basket.

“We’re like a Kobe-Shaq duo, kind of,” Gloth said. “I’m just down there getting the rebounds off of everyone. I’m just there, everyone else is shooting it.”

Gloth is a 6–1 guard who plays the role of a forward and relishes in it.

“My job is to get rebounds and put it back,” Gloth said.

After slightly leading the Eagles 9-8 in the first quarter, the Rams took control of the game with a 23-point second quarter in which four players scored at least four points in the period, led by senior Mark Panagos, who scored six of his eight during the waning moments of the first half.

“We had a rough first quarter so we had to come out and try to get more energy,” Gloth said. “We passed the ball, found shooters, and just got the open shots.”

After leading 32-22 coming out of halftime, all Scott City had to do was keep pace during the second half. Rebounds, drawing fouls, and making free throws were crucial to maintaining a lead.

“In the second half we had to get more rebounds than the first half,” Lowery said. “It was rough.”

The Rams made 12-of-17 shots from the charity stripe.

“Free throws are big for us,” Lowery said.

“We only won by 10,” Gloth said, “so that was a big part for us for sure.”

Eli Shoemaker led the Eagles with 12 points, all in the first half, while Carson Kern added 10 points. Oran went 9-of-14 from the free-throw line.

Scott City will take on top-seeded Cape Central in the quarterfinal round at 4:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the Show Me Center. Oran will take on Delta in the consolation round at 1:30 p.m., with the loser being eliminated.