Oran boys basketball team's charge to final four falls short

DEXTER, Mo. -- Both the Hayti and Oran boys basketball teams were surprise participants in the Class 2 quarterfinal round.

Only the Indians will get to continue their storybook season following Saturday's 74-48 romp at Dexter High School.

"Unbelievable," Hayti coach Phillip Taylor said after the Indians secured their first trip to the final four since the 1983 squad claimed a state title. "My heart's beating 100 miles an hour."

The Indians, seeded fourth in their district, survived three consecutive thrillers to reach Saturday's game.

Hayti won the district semifinal on a last-second shot, won the district championship contest in overtime and captured the sectional matchup in triple overtime.

The Oran bench reacts to their 74-48 loss to Hayti in a Class 2 state quarterfinal Saturday in Dexter, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

"We didn't get no respect," Hayti senior forward Jerome Thomas said about the Indians' low district seed.

Hayti (21-9) is earning respect after dismantling an Oran squad that was seeded second in its district and was in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1969, when the Eagles finished as state runners-up.

"They played a good game," said Oran junior guard Kody Moore, the only returning starter from last year's team that won the program's first district title since 1999. "We wish them luck at state."

Oran (19-11) hung with the more athletic Indians for a half. The Eagles led 13-7 midway through the first quarter and trailed just 29-25 at the intermission.

But Hayti's speed, quickness and leaping ability ultimately wore down the Eagles, who were outscored 45-23 in the second half. Oran trailed by double figures for the game's final 13 minutes.

Oran's Seth Ressel takes a shot over Hayti's Jerome Thomas during the third quarter of the Class 2 quarterfinal Saturday, March 10, 2012 in Dexter, Mo. Ressel was called for an offensive foul on the play. (Fred Lynch)

"They were very quick and fast, well talented," Moore said. "They can wear a team down. They wore us down."

Among several big keys were Hayti's dominance on the boards and its sizzling shooting in the second half.

The Indians outrebounded Oran 43-23, led by the relentless Thomas, who played much bigger than his 6-foot-2 frame. He had a double-double with 15 points and 13 boards.

"It was a big key," Thomas said. "Coach just told us to go up and get every rebound."

Hayti shot 57.7 percent in the second half (15 of 26), thanks partially to plenty of baskets in close and on run-outs.

Oran's Hunter Schlosser looks to pass against Hayti's Jerome Thomas during the third quarter Saturday.

The Indians, who also had success from the outside by making six 3-pointers, finished the game at a solid 48.1 percent (26 of 54) against Oran's zone defense.

"They shot the lights out. They're a very talented team, well coached," Oran coach Joe Shoemaker said. "They shot the ball better than I thought they would. Not that they couldn't shoot, but you have to pick your poison."

While Thomas, sophomore forward Demetrius Luster (13 points) and others dominated the inside, senior guard Hunter Turner took care of the outside.

Turner nailed four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 20 points.

"He has games like that from time to time," Taylor said.

Oran's Alex Heuring takes a shot against Hayti's Hunter Turner during the fourth quarter Saturday.

Oran shot just 32 percent (16 of 50), including 9 percent in the second quarter (1 of 11) when Hayti went ahead for good.

"We just didn't play our game today," Moore said. "We were a little bit off shooting wise."

The Eagles missed plenty of open jumpers and layups, although Hayti's defense had a lot to do with it.

"They turned up their defensive pressure," Shoemaker said.

After seven early lead changes, Luster's follow shot with just less than six minutes left in the second quarter put Hayti up for good at 19-18.

Oran trailed just 31-27 early in the third quarter before Hayti used a 13-0 run to break open things.

Senior guard Jermel Covington's 3-pointer with about five minutes left in the period made it 38-27, and the Eagles never cut the deficit back under double figures. It was 51-35 after three quarters.

"I think our defense was the main thing," Taylor said. "We kept pressure on them the whole time. I think they finally wore down."

Moore led Oran with 18 points, including 16 in the first half.

Junior forward Alex Heuring scored 13 points, and sophomore guard Seth Ressel added 10 points.

"Like coach told us in the locker room, nobody thought we'd be here," Moore said. "I'm definitely proud of the team."

And Moore said he already was looking forward to next year when Oran returns its top three scorers in Moore, Ressel and Heuring, the Eagles' leading rebounding.

"I'm very excited," Moore said.

Hayti 15 14 22 23 -- 74

Oran 16 9 10 13 -- 48

HAYTI (74) -- Keenon Norris 2, Maurion Newbill 10, Jermel Covington 8, Hunter Turner 20, Karnard Humes 2, Jerome Thomas 15, Demetrius Luster 13, Frankie Burden 2, Brandon Burden 2. FG 26, FT 16-19, F 16. (3-pointers: Covington 2, Turner 4. Fouled out: none)

ORAN (48) -- Kody Moore 18, Seth Ressel 10, Alex Heuring 13, Blake Henson 3, Adam Schaefer 4. FG 16, FT 14-18, F 18. (3-pointers: Moore 2. Fouled out: none)