Moran teams to face Ranger Friday
By Kathy Thomson
Moran varsity basketball teams are in the midst of district competition, with the girls 0-5 after the first round, and the guys, who started district play a week later, currently at 1-2.
Both teams traveled to Gordon for games on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Results were not available at press time and will be reported next week.
Moran continues on the road to Ranger on Friday, Jan. 31, with the girls’ match at 6:00 p.m. and the boys to follow.
Moran will host Baird on Feb. 4, starting with the Lady Bulldogs’ tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
Bulldogs
The Bulldogs started district play on Jan. 17 with a loss in Baird.
The Bears were ahead 14-5 at the first quarter, 32-11 by the half, and continued to add to their lead, handing the Bulldogs a 56-20 defeat.
Moran hosted Eula on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Pirates looted the Bulldogs 77-29.
“The guys put up a good fight against the number nine ranked team in the state,” said athletic director John Hughes.
The Bulldogs claimed their first district win on Friday, Jan. 24 against the Strawn Greyhounds.
“It was a hard-fought game, and they pulled it out,” said Hughes.
Lady Bulldogs
Moran’s varsity girls are still looking for their first district win, with recent losses to Ranger, Baird, Eula, and Strawn.
According to Hughes, who is the girls’ head coach, when they hosted Ranger on Jan. 10, it was an all around bad night.
“If it could go wrong, it did,” he said. “We had a couple of starters out, and we couldn’t get shots to fall.”
The Ranger Bulldogs held Moran scoreless in the first quarter.
“Although the second half was better, the hole we were in was just too big to dig out of,” said Hughes. “But these young ladies are very tough-minded, and they will learn and bounce back from this setback.”
The final score was 14-29.
Scoring for the Lady Bulldogs were November Meredith 5, Johnnie Hise 3, Reshaley Schafer 2, Dariann Hawley 2, and Hannah Rogers 2.
Moran lost 19-47 in Baird on Jan. 14.
“We looked better than we did against Ranger, but still had a tough time getting the ball to fall,” said Hughes. “We continue to improve, and overall I am pleased with the development of the girls this year. However, we still have a lot of work to do to get where we need to be.”
Scoring were Hise 8, Meredith 5, Schafer 4, and Hawley 2.
Last week, Moran hosted the Eula Lady Pirates, who are ranked 11th in the state.
“The girls played hard and put up a good fight; we just didn’t have enough horse to match up with what they put on the floor,” said coach Hughes. “It was one of those nights you would like to forget. We started out great, then they took over, beating us 60-5.”
Hughes was proud of his team in spite of the loss.
“Even with the odds stacked against us, our girls played their hearts out,” he said. “I’m proud of them.”
Scorers were Hise 3, and Chloe Hendricks 2.
Strawn handed Moran a 41-18 loss on Friday.
“We made a little bit of a bounce back from playing Eula, but we just couldn’t get many shots to fall,” said Hughes. “The girls gave it their all. I couldn’t be any prouder of them and the effort they gave.”
Earning points for the Lady Bulldogs were Hise 6, Schafer 5, Hawley 5, and Meredith 2.
“We went 0-5 during the first round of district play, but the record doesn’t really tell the story about the girls,” said the coach. “They play hard and compete to the very end. I’m proud of them and will continue to push them to reach their potential.”
Junior High
The junior high Bulldogs lost 31-8 in Strawn on Jan. 9.
Scoring for Moran were Caleb York 4, Toby Eason 2, and A.J. Hebel 2.
Gordon defeated Moran’s boys 47-8 on Jan. 13.
Scoring for Moran were Ellis Hise 4, York 2, and Cotten Campbell 2.
“On Monday, Jan. 20, we went to Ranger to play the Bulldogs,” said coach Matthew Hise. “We were outscored 39-12.”
Earning points for Moran were Hebel 4, York 4, Hise 2, and Eason 2.
The junior high Lady Bulldogs also lost in Ran-ger on Jan. 20.
