Oran breezes through Scott-Miss. opener

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- It didn't take top-seeded Oran long to show eighth-seeded Delta why they're the odds-on favorites to win this year's Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament.

Building a 27-point lead by the break, the Lady Eagles soared to a 69-16 opening round win Monday night that sets up a semifinal matchup between them and the fifth-seeded Kelly Lady Hawks.

"Defensively we really got after it about midway through the first quarter on," Oran head coach Ethan Evans said. "Offensively we were really balanced in scoring tonight, which was good to see."

After a slow start, where they went ahead 9-6, the Lady Eagles started to pull away from the Lady Bobcats in the final four minutes of the first quarter. Ashlyn McIntosh hit a basket that started a string of 11-straight points to help put Oran up 22-8 entering the second period.

It was in the final eight minutes of the half the Lady Eagles put up their best defensive performance of the night by holding Delta with a bucket the entire quarter. They'd hit a pair of free throws to keep from getting shutout, but those were sandwiched by runs of nine and six points respectively.

"I saw they only had the two free throws in the second," Evans said. "We really just kind of dropped back to half court and tried a little 1-2-2 half court trap. We tried to keep the ball in front of us, get deflections and steals and go score."

Oran opened the fourth by shutting Delta out for another four minute stretch while reeling off 13-straight points. Taylor Nenninger hit her only basket of the half during the run to give her team a 31-point lead, at 41-10. The Lady Eagles never looked back as they closed out with a turbo-clocked fourth.

Leading Oran's effort was Addie Kielhofner, who had a game-high 17 points and went 5 of 6 at the free throw line. Nenninger finished with 11 points and Chrissy Sauceda had nine while hitting three of her team's four 3-pointers.

Rachel Birkman and Chasity Taylor had five points each to lead Delta.

With the win, Oran (7-3) will play Kelly Thursday at 7 p.m. at Scott County Central High School. In their previous meeting this season during the Lady Devils Invitational semifinals, it was the Lady Eagles coming out on top 63-36.

"We faced them up at Chaffee," Evans said of Kelly. "I know they have a lot of girls that can play. They're going to get up and get after you. They have deep bench. We have our hands full that's for sure."

Delta 8 2 3 3 -- 16

Oran 22 15 20 12 -- 69

DELTA (16) -- Tia May 2, Erin Bond 2, Chasity Taylor 5, Meagan Parker 2, Rachel Birkman 5. FG 5, FT 5-11, F 10. (3-pointers: Birkman 1. Fouled out: none.)

ORAN (69) -- Addie Kielhofner 17, Ashlyn McIntosh 8, Taylor Nenninger 11, Allie Cummins 8, Tatum May 4, Chrissy Sauceda 9, Kaylen Glastetter 6, Toni Hency 6. FG 28, 9-13, F 11. (3-pointers: Sauceda 3, Nenninger 1. Fouled out: none.)

Kelly 49, East Prairie 42

Led by Tessa Johnson's game-high 14 points, the fifth-seeded Kelly Lady Hawks pulled off the first upset of the tournament with a 49-42 win over fourth-seeded East Prairie.

East Prairie had defeated Kelly twice so far this season.

Kelly jumped out to a 15-11 lead after the first quarter and maintained a three-point edge at the break. They'd outscore the Lady Eagles a combined 23-19 in the final two quarters to hold on for the win.

Behind Johnson, Stephanie Worth and Samantha Ratledge had eight points each while Kristi Brucker added seven points to the cause.

For East Prairie, Rebekah Douglas had a team-high 13 points before fouling out. Kaitlyn Shands and Caitlyn Harwell had 12 and seven points respectively.

Kelly 15 11 9 14 -- 49

East Prairie 11 12 8 11 -- 42

KELLY (49) -- Samantha Ratledge 8, Morgan LeDure 3, Kaylee Scherer 4, Tessa Johnson 14, Stephanie Worth 8, Kristi Brucker 7, Payton Jones 1. FG 19, FT 4-6, F 16. (3-pointers: Johnson 2, LeDure 1. Fouled out: none.)

EAST PRAIRIE (42) -- Rebekah Douglas 13, Dakota Arnold 4, Caitlyn Harwell 7, Kaitlyn Shands 12, Montana Watson 1, Summer Maxwell 2, Alexa Nordwald 1, Kali Thurmon 2. FG 15, FT 8-15, F 16. (3-pointers: Douglas 1, Harwell 1. Fouled out: Douglas.)