Top-seeded Oran boys basketball team takes down defending tourney champion Scott Central in OIT semifinal

Oran's Jacob Shoemaker goes up for a shot between Scott County Central's Keshawn Sanders (20) and Kioki Johnson (10) during an Oran Invitational Tournament semifinal Thursday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Oran, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

ORAN, Mo. -- It didn't take long for the defending Class 2 state champions to shake off a little bit of rust.

A furious third quarter by the Oran boys basketball team turned a single-digit lead into a comfortable 82-61 victory over Scott County Central in a semifinal of the Oran Invitational Tournament on Thursday at Oran High School.

"I'm always happy to get a win, especially over a quality program like Scott County," Oran coach Joe Shoemaker said. "You never take that for granted. Their kids came out and played hard and did what I expected them to do."

The last time the top-seeded Eagles were on the floor, they were hoisting the program's first-ever championship trophy. Their new-look squad is down two starters from last year's 23-8 campaign, which included Class 2 Player of the Year Max Priggel, and it took a bit of time for that adjustment to set in during their first game of the season and against the tournament's most successful program historically.

Oran's Layne Johnson attempts to drive around Scott County Central's Keshawn Sanders during an Oran Invitational Tournament semifinal Thursday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Oran, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

"For the most part, we've let that go behind us," Shoemaker said about last year's state title. "That's last year, and the guys know that. We're not the same team, and I think they've adjusted pretty well to it. We hadn't played yet, and I was a little concerned about that. We didn't get a jamboree, and I thought we were a little slow early, a little tentative. But I like it. It's a building block, and we just have to continue to get better."

The fourth-seeded Braves (1-3), who were last year's tournament champions and the holders of a tournament-record 23 championships, took advantage of Oran's slow going at first.

They were last tied at 19-all and fell behind by just eight throughout the first half, despite six first-quarter turnovers. It helped that they shot over 50 percent (15 for 28) from the floor and got 15 first-half points from Garry Wilkerson, who finished with 21.

"They slowed us down with their 1-2-2 a little bit," Shoemaker said. "We kind of played on our heels a little bit defensively, and they did a good job of hitting open 3s and attacking the rim both."

When it looked like the Eagles were going to pull away before the break, Kioki Johnson, who ended with 10, nailed a 3 to make it 38-34 with 1 minute, 40 seconds to play in the second.

Scott County Central coach Matt Cline gives instructions to Garry Wilkerson during an Oran Invitational Tournament semifinal Thursday, Nov. 20, 2017, in Oran, Mo. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

The two teams traded baskets the rest of the way until the halftime score read 44-38.

"When we moved the ball around, we were fine," SCC coach Matt Cline said.

The looks and chances the Braves got in the first two quarters quickly went away in the third.

Oran (1-0) began with a flurry of six straight points to set the tone early and reach their first double-digit lead of the night. A bucket by SCC's Titus Fields, who finished with 14, broke up the trend briefly, but the Eagles went back on the attack.

Oran finished the third with a 16-4 run to go up 68-46.

"That second half, we hung our heads a little bit, threw the ball away, and then we'd throw it away again and didn't get back," Cline said. "Just felt like I saw a little bit of our guys hanging their heads for about a four- or five-minute stretch."

Oran's defensive uptick turned into layup drills on the other end. The Eagles outscored the Braves 24-8 and capped their emphatic separation with nine straight points to finish the quarter.

"After they'd tip it, they were gone and beat us down the floor," Cline said. "They outran us down the floor. They had quite a few run-outs during that stretch and took that 10- or 12-point lead they had to 30 real quick."

A key to Oran's success last season bled over into its first game of the year. Five players scored in double figures, with drive-and-dishes being the norm against SCC.

"That's something this group will do is share the ball offensively," Shoemaker said. "There's going to be times when we're not hitting shots. My focus is we have to continue to defend and rebound."

Jacob Shoemaker, coach Joe Shoemaker's son, led Oran with 21 points and had three steals. Cole Priggel added 18 points and five rebounds, while Layne Johnson and Drew Reischman each scored 13. Todd Priggel had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

"We got to pick it up defensively," Shoemaker said. "We were playing in spurts. We weren't consistent enough and not doing the little things on the defensive end enough."

Behind Wilkerson and Fields, Keshawn Sanders added 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for SCC, which fell into the third-place game against second-seeded Malden at 6:30 p.m. today.

Oran will have a chance to win its home tournament for the first time since 1972 against No. 3 Advange at 8 p.m. today. It's the Eagles' first appearance in their own tournament championship since 2013.

"We haven't made it [in the title game] the last few years ,and we've talked about that," Shoemaker said. "We didn't win a tournament last year until the end, and that's something we try to do."

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (61) – Titus Fields 14, Kioki Johnson 10, Daymon Rossingnol 2, Keshawn Sanders 12, Landon Glueck 2, Garry Wilkerson 21. FG 24 FT 6-8 F 14. (3-pointers: Johnson 2, Wilkerson 5. Fouled out: none.)

ORAN (82) – Jacob Shoemaker 21, Tyson Goodale 7, Layne Johnson 13, Cole Priggel 18, Todd Priggel 10, Drew Reischman 13. FG 32 FT 13-21 F 11. (3-pointers: Shoemaker 1, Johnson 2, T. Priggel 2. Fouled out: none.)

Advance 64, Malden 61

ORAN, Mo. – Michael Hood waited for the perfect time to get hot for Advance.

The senior poured in 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and nailed a game-winning three to cap a furious comeback for the third-seeded Hornets in the second Oran Invitational semifinal Thursday night over No 2. Malden.

Advance (3-0) found themselves trailing 48-41 to start an exciting fourth quarter, which was littered with big runs from each team.

The Hornets started with a 10-0 run out of the gate to take a 51-48 lead. Malden answered with an 8-0 run, which included two big baskets from Dee Triplett and another from Malcom McBride, to put the Green Wave on top 59-53. But they soon found themselves tied with just over a minute left to play when Triplett, a 6-1, 312-pound senior, made some room underneath to put Malden back on top 61-59.

Hood’s answer came from the top of the key when the senior buried a 3-pointer to give Advance a 62-61 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Armani Vermillion scored a team-high 24 points for the Hornets, who will take on top-seeded Oran during Friday’s championship game at 8 p.m.

Malden (1-1) was led by Tyreek Newman’s 25 points. Triplett ended with 16 and Dushawn Butler added 12.

ADVANCE (64) – Armani Vermillion 24, Braden Brown 8, Michael hood 17, Carson Miles 6, Jack Below 3, Hunter Curtis 6. FG 22 FT 10-10 F 11. (3-pointers: Vermillion 4, Brown 2, Hood 1, Below 1, Curtis 2. Fouled out: none.)

MALDEN (61) – Ontario Reed 2, Dushawn Butler 12, Jalen Miller 4, Malcom McBride 4, Tyreek Newman 25, Dee Triplett 16. FG 26 FT 5-15 F 15. (3-pointers: Butler 1, Newman 5. Fouled out: none.)