Panthers hand Greyhounds 78-63 setback

Fort Scott's Jessica McAdams (32) eyes the basket as three Neosho County players defend during the first half of play at Arnold Arena Monday night. McAdams scored 5 points in a 78-63 loss. (Kenny Felt/Special to the Tribune)

Just when it appeared that Fort Scott Community College's women were righting the ship, Neosho County turned in a 15-0 run late in the first half to take control again on its way to a 78-63 win in a non-conference game at Arnold Arena Monday night.

The Greyhounds (6-5), who have lost four of their last six games following a 4-1 start, trailed 10-4 with 12:37 left in the first half. But Andrea Valadez hit a 3-point shot and Hayley Dellinger hit back-to-back jumpers as Fort Scott took its only lead of the contest, 11-10, with 10:37 to go.

The Panthers (7-8), who beat Fort Scott by just 2 points, 77-75, in Chanute on November 20, got 8 points from Danel Stithem during the run that followed which put them ahead 25-11 with 7:12 remaining. Neosho County led 35-25 at the half.

Fort Scott had a great deal of trouble dealing with Neosho County's press and that continued in the second half as the Panthers scored the first 9 points, the last two when Mackenzie Dunbar stole an inbound pass right after a made basket and laid the ball right into the rim.

Ashley Grant led Neosho County with 31 points as she made 12 of 21 shots from the field. Dunbar and Stithem each added 13 points.

Valade was the only Greyhound who reached double figures as she finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 field-goal shooting. Malori Gales, the leading scorer in Division II of Region VI, was held to 4 points on 2-of-11 shooting but did come down with a team-leading 11 rebounds.

Neosho County shot 45 percent from the field on 29 of 64 and outrebounded Fort Scott, 42-38. The Greyhounds shot 42 percent on 25 of 60 and committed 26 turnovers.

Sierra Shoulders dished 8 assists and picked up 3 steals for the 'Hounds.

Fort Scott plays host to Labette at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday night. The 'Hounds won't be at home again until January 17.

NEOSHO COUNTY: Goss 0-3 0-0 0, Alfonso 3-5 0-0 6, Gonzales 2-4 1-2 5, Dunbar 5-8 3-6 13, Grant 12-21 7-13 31, Stithem 5-11 0-0 13, Fourkiller 0-3 0-0 0, English 1-7 5-6 8, Williams 1-1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 29-64 16-27 78.

FORT SCOTT: Shoulders 2-9 2-2 7, Levine 3-7 0-2 8, Valadez 5-8 1-2 13, Feldman 1-3 0-0 2, Gales 2-11 0-0 4, White 1-5 2-2 4, Cicero 3-6 1-3 7, Dellinger 3-3 1-2 7, Cole 1-2 0-0 2, McAdams 2-3 1-2 5, Wilhelmi 2-3 0-0 4. TOTALS: 25-60 8-15 63.

Halftime: Neosho County, 35-25.

Three-point field goals: Neosho County 4-17 (Stithem 3-9, Emglish 1-6, Fourkiller 0-2), Fort Scott 5-22 (Valadez 2-4, Levine 2-5, Shoulders 1-5, Feldman 0-1, Cicero 0-1, Gales 0-6) .

Total fouls: Neosho County 17, Fort Scott 19. Fouled out: None.

Rebounds: Neosho County 42 (Gonzles 11), Fort Scott 38 (Gales 11). Assists: Neosho County 9 (English 4), Fort Scott 12 (Shoulders 8). Turnovers: Neosho County 16, Fort Scott 26. Steals: Neosho County 16 (Dunbar 6), Fort Scott 9 (Shoudlers 3). Blocked shots: Neosho County 1 (English), Fort Scott 2 (McAdams 2).