'Hound women run out of steam

Fort Scott Community College's women had a chance to secure a home-court spot in the Region VI Tournament when they hosted No. 18 Coffeyville in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play at Arnold Arena Wednesday evening.

Instead, the Greyhounds ran out of steam, failing to score a single point in the final 5:11 of play and dropping a 93-74 decision.

Coffeyville, 15-1 in the East and 25-3 overall, scored the game's last 17 points. The run started shortly after Greyhound point guard Jazmin Taylor fouled out of the contest.

Keisha Walker's three-point play brought the 'Hounds, 11-5, 19-9, within 76-74 with 5:11 to go. Brittany Rochelle started Coffeyville's run with a jumper and then two free throws.

What made the finish even more disappointing was how Fort Scott had rallied from a 46-36 halftime deficit to take a 10-point lead with 9:24 to go. Coffeyville scored the next 10 to tie it.

In the last 7:05 of play, Coffeyville outscored Fort Scott 25-6.

Walker finished as the game's leading scorer with 29 points. Tiffany Coppage added 16 while Amber Bowles scored 12.

Syeeda Echols led Coffeyville with 21 points while Shyvon Spears followed with 20. Sade Bowen added 15 points with Rochelle chipping in with 14.

Coffeyville made 19 of 31 shots from the field in the second half and finished 35 of 61 for 57 percent. Fort Scott made 18 of 33 shots in the first half but finished at 27 of 64 for 42 percent.

Coffeyville outrebounded Fort Scott, 47-33. Bowles had nine boards for the 'Hounds.

Taylor dished out eight assists while Hammond picked up five steals.

Fort Scott is currently the No. 3 seed for the Region VI Tournament. The top four seeds from the east and west sides of the region get home-court advantage in the first round.

But the 'Hounds are now only a half game ahead of Labette and one full game up on Independence, which is in the fifth position. The Greyhounds have a rare Saturday off -- Johnson County, which it would have played then, is in the Region VI Division II Tournament beginning tonight -- before going to Allen County Wednesday then hosting Labette in what could be a crucial game for seeding on March 3 at Arnold Arena.

Fort Scott defeated Labette at Parsons on January 31 and beating the Cardinals again would clinch a tie-breaker. The Greyhounds split the season series with Independence. If they tie with Indy, the tie-breaker will come down to how each team did against the other tournament-eligible teams.

NOTES -- New lights were installed at Arnold Arena over the weekend and this game was the first one played under them. It was significantly brighter in the arena....

Not a single home team won a women's game in the Jayhawk Conference, east or west, Wednesday night....