Semoball

Oran boys basketball leans on defense to defeat Chaffee and advance to district championship

Chaffee's Alec Bogenpohl looks to pass as Oran's Todd Priggel defends during the third quarter of a Class 2 District 2 semifinal Tuesday in Perryville, Missouri.
Fred Lynch

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Chaffee boys basketball team had already beaten Oran once this season, and a steady start Tuesday seemed to point to similar intentions in the Class 2 District 2 semifinal.

But you don't defeat the defending state champions with a second quarter like the one the Red Devils had this time around.

Second-seeded Oran held No. 3 Chaffee without a point in the second quarter, erasing a deficit and pulling away to a 56-36 win at Perry Park Center, cementing a return trip to the C2D2 title game.

The Eagles will face top-seeded St. Vincent on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Perryville.

Oran's Layne Johnson works against Chaffee's Austin Copeland during the first quarter of a Class 2 District 2 semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 in Perryville, Missouri.
Fred Lynch

"Be proud. You know, we beat a heck of a team tonight that's accomplished stuff at Chaffee that hasn't been accomplished for a while. So it's a good group right there," Oran coach Joe Shoemaker said. "So we've got our work cut out for us."

With the Red Devils (18-7) leading 13-12 after one quarter, the Eagles (20-5) reeled off a 17-0 run that spanned the second period and built a lead they didn't relinquish.

"Obviously, I think we did a great job in the second quarter on the boards as well as defense," Shoemaker said. "I thought we contested their shots, we moved, we communicated well. It's a good effort. To hold a good team like that scoreless for a quarter, hats off to my kids for working hard."

Chaffee played Oran within three points the rest of the game, but going 0 of 12 over the course of a quarter was too much to overcome.

Layne Johnson gave the Eagles a 15-13 lead on a three-point play with 6 minutes, 32 seconds left in the second, and by the time Johnson layed the ball in with 48 seconds on the clock, the score was 29-13.

As if to emphasize the disastrous nature of the quarter, Chaffee had a transition layup with 11 seconds left in the half, only to see the ball roll along the top of the rim and fall out.

"Missed a lot of layups, for one thing," Chaffee coach Josh Govreau said. "I thought we got some good, open 3s that some kids that have been hot and have been making them, missed. To win a game like that against Oran, those are things you've got to take care of. You're not going to be able escape having a quarter like that."

Chaffee finished 15 of 53 (28.3 percent) from the floor and 4 of 18 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range. It was 2 of 4 from the charity stripe and did not attempt a free throw in the second half.

Oran did not have a vintage shooting night either, going 22 of 56 (39.3 percent) from the field, including 3 of 11 (27.3 percent) from 3. It was 9 of 11 (81.8 percent) at the free-throw line.

But the Eagles did dominate the glass, out-rebounding the Red Devils 45-24, paced by Todd Priggel's 15 rebounds.

"If we don't rebound the ball we don't win tonight's game, because we didn't shoot the ball well ourselves, obviously," Shoemaker said. "... We talked to those guys about rebounding and that's something we really have to apply ourselves to."

Johnson led all scorers with 15 points and also had nine rebounds and three assists. Jacob Shoemaker added 13 points for Oran.

Alec Bogenpohl led Chaffee with 10 points, while Gabe Henson finished with eight points. Landon Tenkhoff had seven points and nine rebounds.

"Give Oran credit, they did a good job of taking away Tenkhoff and Bogenpohl and making us earn everything we needed," Govreau said.

The two teams traded blows in the first quarter, with Henson sinking a 3 inside the final minute to give his team a lead going into the second period.

There was little difference between the two sides in the second half -- during which Oran outscored Chaffee just 27-23 -- but it was all academic, as the Eagles moved into a showdown with St. Vincent.

Oran is looking for its second straight district title in its eighth consecutive championship appearance.

Chaffee's season comes to an end after taking a major step forward this season.

"I feel sick to my stomach now too, knowing it's over," Govreau said. "I've told these kids that in my 10 years, these last four or five weeks have been the most fun I've ever had coaching. We ran off nine (wins) in a row and to win conference for the first time since 1962. It's something to be proud of. We weren't ready for the season to be over yet, but we'll always be able to look back at this season and be proud of what we accomplished."

Chaffee130149--36
Oran12171611--56

CHAFFEE (36) -- Damion Applewhite 2, Breven Yarbro 4, Gabe Henson 8, Landon Tenkhoff 7, Alec Bogenpohl 10, Doug Lands 5. FG 15, FT 2-4, F 12. (3-pointers: Henson 2, Tenkhoff, Lands. Fouled out: None.)

ORAN (56) -- Jacob Shoemaker 13, Layne Johnson 15, Cole Priggel 8, Todd Priggel 6, Drew Reischman 6, Tyson Goodale 8. FG 22, FT 9-11, F 13. (3-pointers: Johnson 2, Shoemaker. Fouled out: Reischman.)

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