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Oran boys basketball father-son duo ready for one last ride together
ORAN, Mo. -- Two games left. Period.
No matter what happens, win or lose, Jacob and Joe Shoemaker know these are the last two games they'll compete in as a father-son, coach-player duo.
For years, Joe Shoemaker has been Jacob's coach, starting in elementary school and continuing through Oran High School. Together, the two have experienced highs, such as winning the Eagles' first state title in boys basketball, and lows. Now, time is almost up on the duo.
By Saturday night, Jacob will have played his final high school basketball game. Neither he nor his father is the sentimental type, so both are focused on the task at hand, winning another Class 2 state championship. Still, they are thankful for the time they got to spend together, at practices and games, though maybe not on the bus rides back.
Their final ride begins at 11 a.m. today with a matchup against defending state champion Van-Far.
"Two games left with him, and it's been 12 years of great experiences and great fun," Joe Shoemaker said. "It's definitely going to be different in the future. It's something I'd love to do all over again with all my boys. I've been very blessed to have that opportunity."
It's been a learning experience for both with Jacob, the oldest of three boys, serving as a guinea pig of sorts. He was the first son Joe coached, and growing pains were inevitable.
"There's probably some nights I've sacrificed being a dad and made some comments that most dads probably won't make to their sons just because of the coach relationship," Joe said. "Overall, like I said, I don't have a complaint on it, not one."
Since his freshman season in 2015-16, Jacob has gotten varsity minutes. As a sophomore, he scored 33 points in the state championship victory.
"He's just another kid on the team, I would say," Oran junior Tyson Goodale said. "We're pretty tight. He's a really good ballplayer, a really good friend. He's always there for you."
If Jacob puts a foot wrong, though, Joe isn't afraid to let him know.
"If anybody ever does anything wrong, he sees it when I do it," the younger Shoemaker said. "But it's fun to spend that (time) with someone you love, shared so many memories with."
This season, Jacob also got to share a locker room with his younger brother, freshman Samuel Shoemaker. The youngest son, Elijah, is not far behind in seventh grade.
"They're pretty close, and they're good to each other," Joe said. "They really are. I've been very blessed with a great wife and wonderful boys."
Those three grew up playing against each other. It didn't matter the sport, though having a basket in the backyard certainly led to a fair share of pick-up hoops.
With three competitive young boys, games often ended in wrestling matches. Bruised egos, and bruised body parts, maybe even a black eye, have resulted from those brotherly competitions.
"We're all competitive and a lot of times that doesn't end well," Jacob said.
Those sessions of backyard basketball did more than provide a competitive outlet for the three, though. They boosted Jacob's development as a player and helped him appreciate the game.
"First of all, with someone who knows you that well, you've got to really bring your best game because they know everything you can do," Jacob said. "You've got to really focus. Also, just to have fun with the game because when you're playing in the backyard, it's just fun.
"Sometimes people get out here and it's like a job and they're not having fun."
That competitive spirit and a love of basketball can probably be traced back to Joe, who played the sport at Oran. He graduated in 1993 and a decade later was leading Advance to the Class 2 state quarterfinals.
Soon enough, he was at Oran, and then Jacob was playing under him.
"How we took it and approached it is there's times sometimes where I've got to be coach and not dad and go at it that way and he's got to be a player and not son," Joe said. "I've been very blessed. He has a good personality, good attitude and he works hard, so that made my life a lot easier."
Still, the two spend so much time together, at home, at school or in the gym, sometimes they need to get away from one another following games. Even after home games, Joe may hang around to help clean up with Jacob leaving earlier.
"Our biggest thing is there's certain nights where we won't ride home together," Joe said. "I'll take the bus, and he rides home with Mom or vice versa. We're just giving ourselves a little separation after the game."
While Joe has coached Jacob for years, the same holds true for most of Oran's roster. Joe coached many of these same youngsters either in elementary school or junior high. He played basketball with Todd Priggel's dad and went to school with the mothers of Ty Johnson and Massey.
What's more, Joe has gotten to know many of these young people away from the court as they often drop by the Shoemakers' house.
"With this group of seniors, juniors and the sophomores, too, coming through school and being with them and them being at the house from second grade on basically, it's going to be tough losing this group just because of that closeness," Joe said. "On game days the last four or five years, it seems like half the team is at the house eating and it's been a lot of fun. I'm going to miss that more than anything, I think."
They aren't done making memories yet. They have another chance to do so this weekend in Springfield and hope to send Jacob and three other seniors out on top as state champions.
No matter what, it's another chance for Jacob and Joe, and the rest of the team, to enjoy their time together. They'll make sure to cherish those moments because soon enough, the ride will be over.
Two games left.