Kinnie's return to court not enough to boost 'Hounds

Fort Scott's Brandon Kinnie (21) takes a shot over a Cowley defender during the first half of play Wednesday night at Arnold Arena. Kinnie, playing his first basketball game since last March after signing with the University of Nebraska football program earlier in the day, scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Greyhounds, who fell to the Tigers, 93-77. (Captured Images/Kenny Felt)

Brandon Kinnie signed a letetr of intent to play football next season at the University of Nebraska Wednesday morning.

Wednesday night, Kinnie returned to the basketball court and provided an initial boost before Fort Scott Community College's men fell to visiting Cowley, 93-77, in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play.

Kinnie played basketball last season as he redshirted in football. He last played March 4 of last year in a Region VI Tournament first-round game. This year, Kinnie was an All-KJCCC First Team wide receiver and Most Valuable Offensive player in the Greyhounds' Heart of Texas Bowl victory.

He also scored Fort Scott's first five points of this game as the 'Hounds (3-8 East, 9-14 overall) jumped out to a quick lead. However, Cowley (9-2, 20-3) eventually overcame Fort Scott's momentum as a 11-0 run mdway through the half gave the Tigers a 28-18 lead.

Cowley led 41-36 at halftime. But Fort Scott chipped slowly into the lead until just under the eight-minute mark of the second half when Bryce Kemp sparked a 10-2 run that brought Fort Scott within 76-69 with 4:57 to go after Eric Kellogg scored consecutive baskets.

However, that was the closest the Greyhounds could get. Jawanza Poland and Jack Crowder scored quickly to get the lead up to 11 and the Tigers held Fort Scott to only eight points and two field goals the rest of the way.

Kinnie had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Greyhounds. Darrell Blanton added 11 points while hauling fown 14 boards. Kurklin Bohanon chipped in with 10 points and also picked up four steals.

Crowder led all scorers with 25 points as he made 11 of 19 shots from the field. Poland added 24, half of those from the free-throw line. Elijah Jones was a perfect six-of-six from the floor as he contributed 14 points. Robert Goff finished with 10 points for the Tigers.

The 'Hounds outrebounded the Tigers, 53-32, but shot only 40 percent from the floor on 29 of 72 and turned the ball over 20 times. Cowley made 55 percent of its fielders on 35 of 64.

COWLEY: Atwater 0-0 0-0 0, Rhone 0-0 0-0 0, Grant 3-6 0-0 6, Poland 5-12 12-19 24, Russell 1-5 2-2 5, Crowder 11-19 2-3 25, Goff 5-9 0-0 10, Jones 6-6 1-3 14, Chambers 1-1 0-0 2, Kamwa 0-2 0-0 0. TOTALS: 35-64 18-29 93.