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Seniors lead way as Tigers rally to beat Vikings
Fort Scott High's boys didn't have it easy against Parsons in a Southeast Kansas League game at the FSHS gymnasium Tuesday night. Then again, no game is easy in the SEK and especially when you're the Fort Scott Tigers.
The Vikings gave the Tigers some trouble, leading by six points at halftime. But it's been a rare occasion when an opponent can keep Fort Scott contained for all four quarters and the Tigers used a couple of third-quarter spurts to take the lead and go on to a 55-41 win over Parsons.
Fort Scott, ranked No. 8 in Class 4A again this week in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, remains undefeated in league play at 6-0 with an overall mark of 14-4 after it's eighth straight victory. Coffeyville, which has already received its bye in the league schedule, kept pace with a 58-51 victory over Chanute Tuesday to improve to 5-0, 9-8. Parsons fell to 3-2, 9-8.
The Tigers tried to pull away late in the first after the two teams opened the game trading baskets. Zach Smith hit a three-point shot and Kevin Gray scored a layup to put Fort Scott up 13-8 with two minutes to go. But Parsons answered with Bryce Heenan's triple and a layup from Malcom Odom to tie it at the end of the quarter.
Fort Scott tried again late in the second. Zach Quick's layup made it 23-20 with 2:57 to go. But Parsons scored the last seven points of the half and went into the locker room with a four-point lead.
"Parsons played well and came out and did some things that made it difficult on us," Fort Scott head coach Jeff DeLaTorre said. "We felt like we had given them some easy looks and had some breakdowns of our own doing."
The Tigers opened the second half with an 8-0 run. Quick converted a three-point play, then Jeff Johnson stuck back a teammate's miss and Chris Banks hit a three-pointer to cap it with 5:33 remaining.
Parsons hung in and was still within 35-33 before the Tigers capped the quarter with a 6-0 run. Quick scored, then assisted on a Smith score before Smith ended the period by taking a steal in for a layup.
"We talked about staying patient in the second half, sticking with our plan and trying to get the ball inside and we did a better job in the third quarter," DeLaTorre said. "Defensively, we got some stops early in the quarter and did a lot better job on that end."
Damon Odom scored two quick baskets for Parsons, bringing the Vikes within 43-37 with 6:35 to go. But then Quick hit two free throws and scored a layup and Parsons would never get closer than six after that.
The Tigers made all six free throws in the final 1:25 and went 11 for 11 at the line in the second half.
Quick finished with 21 points and dished six assists for the Tigers, who made 55 percent of their shots from the field on 21 of 38. Smith added 11 points while Gray connected on five of six from the field on his way to finishing with 10. Banks chipped in with nine as Fort Scott's seniors scored all but four points on Senior Night.
"It's nice to see all four seniors kind of leading the way for us," DeLaTorre said. "It was good to see them playing well.
"We're playing our best when we get more people involved. Zach's going to get his points but when we have Zach Smith and Banks hitting shots outside and Kevin hitting that open shot, it's tough for people to guard."
Damon Odom was the only Viking to reach double figures, finishing with 15 points as he made seven of 12 shots from the floor.
Parsons made 43 percent of its shots on 18 of 42 but was only able to make six of 22 fielders in the second half.
The Tigers outrebounded the Vikings 27-18. Banks pulled down six boards for Fort Scott.
Parsons committed only five turnovers compared to Fort Scott's 11.
Fort Scott plays its last two regular-season games on the road before very likely coming back to the FSHS gymnasium on February 26 for a first-round game in the Class 4A Sub-State Tournament it will be hosting. Friday, the Tigers travel to Iola, which had its league bye Tuesday. The Mustangs, 3-2, 10-7, visited Fort Scott for a non-league game January 3 and left with a 65-46 loss.
"We played them here earlier and they played us well in the second half," DeLaTorre said. "They're going to start the game with a lot of confidence that they can play with us. We're two games from an SEK championship but we have to do it on the road. We have to do it one game at a time. Iola's had a good season. They've played well and we have to be prepared and ready to go."
JUNIOR VARSITY -- Kolby Allen scored 26 points in the Tigers' 60-48 win over Parsons. Alex Barner scored 11 points, all in the first quarter.
FRESHMEN -- Although last night's score isn't in as of press time, coach Pechone Stepps did send in results of the Tigers' other recent games.
On February 6, the Tigers beat Columbus, 59-29. Gary Floyd scored 21 points in that game. Floyd was also the leading scorer with 14 points in the next game, a 50-18 win over Chanute on February 9. The Tigers jumped out to an 18-0 lead in that contest.
Fort Scott took a "split squad" to a tournament at Central Heights last Saturday. The Tigers lost to the Anderson County junior varsity in the first round, 61-46, as Alex Pemberton and Jacob Ruhl each scored 11 points. Alex Pemberton hauled down 10 rebounds.
In the other game at Central Heights, Fort Scott lost to the home team's JV, 44-33. Nolan Stark had 11 points for the Tigers and Josh Hawkins grabbed 14 rebounds.
"Our guys played hard," Stepps said. "I thought they held their own considering we were playing against other teams' sophomores and some juniors."