Semoball

Oran makes second-half adjustments, dominates Cape Central in Classic win

Oran junior center Katie Webb (40) shoots against Cape Central sophomore center Ella Vogel Wednesday in the First State Community Bank Holiday Classic at the Show Me Center.
Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian

The Oran girl’s basketball coaching staff earned its paychecks during halftime of the Eagles’ game with Cape Girardeau Central Wednesday in the opening round of the First State Community Bank Holiday Classic at the Show Me Center.

After the Tigers closed the first half on a 23-12 run to take a 25-21 lead at the intermission, veteran Eagle coach Ethan Evans spoke at length during the break about one topic in particular.

“The biggest adjustment was rebounding,” Evans said. “They had 21 rebounds at the half. They had 12 offensive boards, which is way too many.”

Oran executed at both ends much better following the break and dominated Cape Central 18-5 in the third quarter and eventually won comfortably 52-37.

The Eagles (6-0) advance to face Notre Dame (5-2) tonight at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.

Oran not only rebounded the basketball to close its defensive possessions in the second half, but it also adjusted its 1-2-2 pressing defense, which gave the Tigers some pause, as they tried to figure it out.

“We’ve struggled all year with trying to take care of the basketball,” Cape Central coach Brandon Winters said. “You always give credit to your opponents. They did a great job of making some adjustments.

“They came out and pressured us a little bit more than they were and played the passing lanes a little bit better. We just didn’t do a good job of handling the ball.”

Offensively, Oran stuck to a game plan of throwing the ball into junior center Katie Webb to start the second half. She scored four of the Eagles’ initial five baskets and finished with 22 points to go with her six rebounds.

“She’s been a pretty good double-double machine for us,” Evans said. “We were definitely looking to get it into her. When (Tiger center Ella Vogel) wasn’t guarding her, I thought we could exploit that.”

The sophomore Vogel, who was All-SEMO Conference as a freshman, finished with seven points on her 16th birthday and was one of four non-seniors that Winters starts.

“She’s had a really good year,” Winters said. “A lot of the attention goes right towards her, but we’ve had some other girls start to step up and make shots.”

Senior Yeniah Jackson came off the bench to score eight for Cape Central (3-2), as did freshman Taylor Horton.

“There are stretches where we can see that we can be pretty good,” Winters said, “and stretches where we can be pretty bad.”

For the Oran girl’s basketball program, it is in a prolonged “stretch” of being pretty good.

The Eagles are in the midst of their seventh straight winning season and will be going for their seventh consecutive Class 2 District 2 championship.

“It starts with the elementary level,” Evans said of building his program. “We’ve got a pretty good elementary program down there. We’ve been blessed with some good athletes and if we put two or three together from each class, that helps us.”

Southeast Missouri State softball signee Kaylee Payne scored on multiple levels for Oran and totaled 20 points, six assists, and six steals, while Taylor Lowes had four steals in the win.

The Eagles also finished the game in impressive fashion by hitting all 10 of their free-throw attempts.

ORAN 52, CAPE CENTRAL 37

Oran - 11 10 18 13 - 52

Cape Central - 6 15 5 7 - 37

ORAN (52) - Heather Gosche 2, Kaylee Payne 20, Grace Davis 4, Hope Woodfin 4, Katie Webb 22. FG 20, FTs 10-10, 3-pointers (Payne 2).

CAPE CENTRAL (37) - Alivia Capshaw 2, Rakiara Bogan 5, Martasia Carter 4, Taylor Horton 8, Olivia Koch 1, Yeniah Jackson 8, Ella Vogel 7, Bryonna Thomas 2. FG 14, Fts 6-15, 3-pointers (Bogan, Horton 2).

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