Dora defeats Aurora, heads to MG tourney


Dora freshman Auston Luna brings the ball down the court during a recent game. Luna led the team in rebounds when the Falcons defeated Class 4 Aurora 72-64 at the Scoreboard Guy Shootout Saturday at Ozark High School in Ozark. Photo by Karla Smith.

The Dora Falcons traveled to Ozark Saturday to take on Class 4 Aurora in the Scoreboard Guy Shootout and brought home a 72-64 win.

“Defensively, we didn’t play as well as I thought we could have,” said Dora coach Rick Luna.  “However, overall we stepped up and  made enough plays when it counted.”  

Offensively, the Falcons have been averaging 70 points per game. Saturday, they put up 72. “That’s good, but I still feel like we could improve on the offensive boards and get a few more buckets throughout the game,” Luna said.  

The first quarter went back and forth, ending with Bryson Luna making a shot at the end of the quarter to win the quarter 20-19. From that point on, the Falcons never trailed but couldn’t manage to pull away by more than 8.  Freshman Isaac Haney led the way with 28 points followed by Bryson Luna 15, Mason Luna 15, Robert Vigdal 6, Auston Luna 3, Austin White 3 and Brent McKemie 2. Auston Luna once again led in rebounding, pulling down 7 boards.  

This week the Falcons play in the Mountain Grove Tournament, where Dora is the No. 3 seed and were to host No. 6 seed Willow Springs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. “This should be a great tournament with state-ranked Mountain Grove and Hartville holding the top two seeds,” Luna said. Results of that game were not available at press time. 

Dora’s first-round matchup against Willow Springs will be a rematch from earlier in the season, which the Falcons won, 68-40.  “Their top scorer was out for that game, so I’m sure they will be ready to play Tuesday night,” Luna said.  “We hope to improve on our 15-3 record, but we know we will have all we can handle with Willow Springs.”  

With six straight wins and three players – all freshmen – averaging double figures, the Dora Falcons have earned the No. 6 spot on Ozarks Sports Zone writer Jordan Burton’s Power Rankings released Jan. 22. “They’ve established they’re an elite Class 1 team, but the question is how elite?” Jordan wrote. “With Hartville, Walnut Grove and Eminence all coming up in two weeks – all on the road – we’re going to find out.”

Ozark County Times

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