Fourth-quarter success leads to Fort Scott sweep: Girls hold off Louisburg rally to prevail

LOUISBURG, Kan. --Fort Scott's girls took advantage of the opportunity they received and were able to hold off a late Louisburg rally to prevail, 43-37, in the final game before the holiday break here Friday night.

The Tigers (4-2) had an up-and-down game for most of the first three quarters, tying the score a couple of times but never able to get ahead.

But when Louisburg's 6' 1" post Brook Frazier drew her fourth foul late in the fourth quarter, the game changed in the Tigers' favor.

Louisburg, which lost for the first time this season (5-1), saw Marisa Mackey convert a 3-point play to give it a 22-18 lead with about a minute and a half to go in the third quarter. Frazier drew foul No. 4 moments later and\ Megan McDermed made the free throws she earned. Then Katren Rienbolt took a steal in for a basket to tie the score once again.

Brianna Lawrence made only one of two free throws with 24.7 seconds to go but that gave Fort Scott its first lead of the evening, 23-22. Lark Hutchison tied the score again by making one of two free throws herself with 12 seconds to go.

The Tigers scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter with Mallory Shelton making it 29-23 with a layup.

Jenna Campbell's basket with just over 3:30 remaining gave Fort Scott its biggest lead at 34-26.

By this time, Frazier had fouled out but Louisburg began to rally anyway. They scored the next 6 with Anna Bell executing the back end of a give-and-go play to bring the Wildcats within 34-32.

Carli Houchen's 3-point shot tied the score at 35-35 with about 1:40 remaining. But Lawrence converted a 3-point play to put Fort Scott ahead again. McDermed made 5 of 6 free throws in the final 33 seconds to keep Louisburg from closing in any further.

Free throws were Fort Scott's biggest ally in the fourth quarter as the Tigers made 12 of 15 charity tosses in the period. This came after FSHS made only 6 of 14 free shots in the third.

Another factor was rebounding. Even with Frazier's presence, the Tigers held a 42-28 advantage on the boards.

McDermed and Lawrence scored 15 points each for Fort Scott, combining to made 20 of 25 free throws, including 11 of 13 in the fourth.

Hutchison led Louisburg with 10 points.

The Wildcats appeared as though they would dominate the contest after taking a 10-3 lead in the first quarter. But Lawrence scored 6 straight points to bring the Tigers into a 13-13 tie with 2:17 left in the half.

Madison Wertz and Hutchison scored for Louisburg to end the half with a 17-13 lead.

The Tigers pulled into a 17-17 tie early in the third as Louisburg failed to score for the first 5:45 of the period.

Fort Scott is idle until Jan. 4. The Tigers will go to Parsons that night for a non-league contest.

NOTES -- Louisburg is coached by former Washington Mystics (WNBA) player Valerie Still....

The Tigers will go into the break tied with Iola with the second-best record among league teams. Labette County, which did not play Friday, is 3-1. Games that count in league play will not start until Jan. 28....

FORT SCOTT: Harper 0 0-1 0, M.Tourtillott 0 0-0 0, Rienbolt 1 1-2 3, Shelton 2 2-8 6, Allen 1 0-0 2, McDermed 2 11-14 15, Campbell 1 0-0 2, Lawrence 3 9-11 15. TOTALS: 10-35 23-36 43.

LOUISBURG: Wertz 1 0-2 2, Mar.Mackey 2 1-2 5, Lemke 1 2-2 4, Hutchison 2 6-8 10, Bell 1 0-0 2, Vaughan 2 0-0 5, Frazier 3 0-1 6, Houchen 1 0-0 3. TOTALS: 13-56 9-15 37.

Louisburg........... 10 7 6 14 -- 37

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 0-2, Louisburg 2-15 (Vaughan, Houchen).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 13, Louisburg 24. Fouled out: Frazier. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 42, Louisburg 28. Assists: n/a. Turnovers: Fort Scott 12, Louisburg 10 Steals: Fort Scott 3, Louisburg 5.