Oran boys basketball team's season ends in Class 2 sectional

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The New Haven boys basketball team was able to force Oran to play at the pace it wanted for just long enough in its Class 2 sectional Wednesday night.

The Shamrocks, who prefer to play slow, had to hold off a fourth-quarter rally from the Eagles to win 52-41 at Park Hills Central High School.

"They really slowed it down early," Oran coach Joe Shoemaker said. "They controlled tempo, and we knew that was going to be big for tonight's game. We talked about it.

"They're very fundamental and disciplined. It's hard to get after their tempo, and they really controlled the tempo in the first half. The second half we got it more where we wanted it, but just not enough time left on the clock."

New Haven (24-4) took a 12-4 lead after one quarter as the Eagles struggled from the field, making just two of 13 shots in the opening period.

Oran's Seth Ressel drives inside for a shot against New Haven during the second quarter of the Class 2 sectional Wednesday in Park Hills, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

"They came out hot, and we were having a little problem knocking down some shots," Oran senior Jon Morrow said. "We tried to get back in the game. We just took some early shots that we shouldn't have. Coach came in and slowed us down and then we started knocking down some shots."

Oran was 3 of 8 from the field in the second quarter, something senior Nathan Michelsen contributed to New Haven's success slowing down his team.

"I think the biggest thing was we just couldn't make shots and that means that we can't set up the press, can't set up full-court man," Michelsen said. "We just couldn't set ourselves up. We couldn't make any shots and that's what it comes down to. We just didn't score as many points as they did."

Morrow, Oran's 6-foot-5 inside presence, was held scoreless in the first half. He only took three shots from the field and was called for his second foul with 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

"They did a great job on him, I felt, defensively with the 6-9 and the other kids inside making it hard to get it to him," Shoemaker said, talking about New Haven's 6-9 senior Elijah Fleer. "And when he got in foul trouble that played a lot of havoc on our rotation and different things."

Oran's Jon Morrow drives away from New Haven defenders Austin Peirick, left, and Elijah Fleer during the second quarter of the Class 2 sectional Wednesday, March 9, 2011 in Park Hills, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

New Haven led by 13 points at halftime and held a 35-21 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Oran forced the Shamrocks to play faster as the fourth quarter wore on. The Eagles forced four turnovers in just more than two minutes of play and twice got as close as five points with 1 minute, 9 seconds left in the game.

"They're not real deep, so I don't know if depth had something to do with it or it's hard to hold a lead late in the game like that," Shoemaker said. "We gambled some there at the end and we got lucky some and we gave up some layups also. That's just how it goes."

Oran got one chance to pull closer but turned the ball over with 42.8 seconds to go, and New Haven made seven of its eight free-throw attempts to close the game.

The Eagles were led by Michelsen with 12 points, while senior Reece Mangels finished with 10 points. Morrow ended with six.

Oran's Jon Morrow drives away from New Haven defenders Austin Peirick, left, and Elijah Fleer during the second quarter of the Class 2 sectional Wednesday in Park Hills, Mo.

Oran finished the season 19-9 and won its first district championship since 1999.

"If we shoot the ball a little bit better, especially in the first half, it's a different ballgame," Shoemaker said. "We built ourselves a big hole and the kids -- I'm very proud of them for not giving up. It'd been very easy down 15 or whatever to pack it in, and they battled back and we're a couple shots from having a one-point game."

New Haven 12 12 11 17 -- 52

Oran 4 7 10 20 -- 41

NEW HAVEN (52) -- Ryan Menke 2, Eric Engelbrecht 5, Austin Peirick 12, Lance Gerlemann 16, Charlie Tritch 2, Elijah Fleer 15. FG 17, FT 17-24, F 11. (3-pointers: Peirick 1. Fouled out: none)

ORAN (41) -- Seth Ressel 6, Nathan Michelsen 12, Tyler Heuring 5, Zac Chasteen 2, Reece Mangels 10, Jon Morrow 6. FG 15, FT 7-8, F 15. (3-pointers: Michelsen 2, Heuring 1, Mangels 1. Fouled out: Heuring.)