Ojeleye takes control as No. 1 seed Ottawa beats Tigers

PAOLA -- Ottawa sophomore Semi Ojeleye, the younger brother of Kansas State junior Victor Ojeleye, scored 22 of his game-high 29 points in the second half here Thursday night as the Cyclones (19-3) ended Fort Scott High's season with a 66-36 decision in the semifinals of the Paola Class 4A Sub-State Basketball Tournament.

The Cyclones -- last season's State runners-up -- are the tournament's No. 1 seed and are ranked No. 7 in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association. They have outscored their two Sub-State opponents 137-66.

The Cyclones, taller at nearly every position of the floor, held a 12-4 lead with 3:28 left in the first quarter. But Daniel Durbin and Cameron Woodring scored consecutive baskets to bring the Tigers (12-10) within 4.

Ottawa held a 19-10 lead at the end of the first. But Woodring hit a 3-point shot about 2 1/2 minutes into the second to bring Fort Scott within 21-16. The Cyclones went on to score 8 of the last 11 of the half as well as the first 9 points of the second half. Ojeleye scored 12 points during that stretch.

Ottawa was up 38-19 before Griffin Knopp, playing despite battling illness, scored Fort Scott's first basket of the second half with around three minutes to go. However, the Cyclones kept the pedal to the floor and were up 46-25 going into the final stanza.

Ojeleye made 9 field goals and 11 of 14 free-throw attempts for Ottawa, which made 24 of 44 field-goal attempts for 55 percent and 17 of 22 free throws. Adam Hasty added 11 points.

Fort Scott shot 30 percent from the field on 14 of 46 and was just 3 of 7 at the charity stripe. Knopp led the Tigers with 11 points.

Ottawa outrebounded Fort Scott, 44-19. Both teams committed just 9 turnovers.

Both schools' girls teams face off tonight at 6 p.m. Cyclone girls (16-4) are the No. 1 seed on the girls' side.

(4) FORT SCOTT: Stark 0 0-0 0, Quick 0 0-0 0, Adams 1 0-0 3, Sather 0 0-0 0, Thorpe 0 0-0 0, Wright 2 0-0 4, Fink 0 0-0 0, Woodring 3 0-0 8, Knopp 4 3-6 11, Harper 2 0-0 6, Rienbolt 0 0-0 0, Durbin 2 0-1 4. TOTALS: 14-46 7-16 36

(1) OTTAWA: Natt 3 1-1 17, Ojeleye 9 11-14 29, Ad.Hasty 3 4-4 11, Peoples 4 0-0 8, Al.Hasty 4 0-1 8, Schaeffer 0 1-2 1, Goedert 1 0-0 2, Graf 0 0-0 0, Blue 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 24-44 17-22 66.

Ottawa.......... 19 10 17 20 -- 66

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 5-18 (Woodring 2, Harper 2, Adams), Ottawa 1-9 (Ad.Hasty).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 16, Ottawa 12. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 19, Ottawa 44. Turnovers: Fort Scott 9, Ottawa 9.