Dragons break streak vs. Tigers

PITTSBURG -- Megan McDermed score the first two baskets of a Southeast Kansas League game for Fort Scott's girls before a minute had even ticked off the game clock here Tuesday night.

But then before one could really blink again, Lizzy Willis scored two quick baskets to the the game, which boosted her Pittsburg squad as they took control from that point on and went on to a 40-35 victory.

McDermed never scored again, perhaps bothered by her injured ankle. The Tigers (3-4 SEK, 9-10 overall) made only 2 more field goals the rest of the half and the Purple Dragons (2-5, 4-15) were able to control the game despite turning the ball over 29 times as Fort Scott struggled at the free-throw line.

Pittsburg broke a 5-game losing streak overall and also broke Fort Scott's 18-game winning streak over the Dragons, who defeated the Tigers for the first time since Dec. 7, 2001.

Pittsburg made 15 of 23 free throws while Fort Scott made just 14 of 34. The fourth quarter was where the difference mattered most as the Dragons made 9 of 13 in the period while Fort Scott went 6 of 14.

Willis' first-quarter baskets started a 11-0 Dragon run. They led 13-8 at the end of the period.

Kori Allen's 3-point shot with 2:54 left in the second quarter broke a 10-minute Tiger field-goal drought and brought Fort Scott within, 15-13, which was the closest it got over the remainder of the contest.

The margin was 20-14 at the half after Mariah Vogel hit a 3-point shot in the waning moments for Pittsburg.

The Dragons had leads as large as 9 points in the third quarter. Brianne Lawrence brought the Tigers within 4 points, 29-25, by making a basket and 2 free throws in the last minute of the third period.

On the strength of free throws, the Dragons outscored the Tigers 6-1 in the first 6 minutes of the fourth. Hannah Tourtillott scored Fort Scott's first basket of the period, then Morgan Tourtillott scored a 3-point play to bring Fort Scott within 35-31 with about a minute and a half to go.

Tourtillott had her third straight double-digit scoring game for the Tigers as she put in 10 points. In her last three games, she has scored 41 points. Prior to this stretch, she had scored 34 points the entire season.

Willis led the Dragons with 11 points before fouling out.

The Tigers will face Labette County Thursday night. The Grizzlies were missing several players with illness and suffered their first SEK loss Tuesday night, 40-35 at Iola.

The results of the Iola and Fort Scott games also mean that the Fillies (11-8) will be the higher seeded team in Sub-State and will host the Tigers in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.

FORT SCOTT: H.Tourtillott 1 2-4 4, Harper 0 0-0 0, M.Tourtillott 3 4-10 10, Rienbolt 2 4-10 8, Shelton 0 0-0 0, K.Allen 1 0-2 3, McDermed 2 0-0 4, Campbell 0 0-1 0, Lawrence 1 4-6 6. TOTALS: 10-47 14-34 35.

PITTSBURG: Spresser 1 2-3 4, Powers 1 0-0 2, McGuire 0 0-0 0, L.Willis 5 1-2 11, Muff 1 7-10 9, Short 2 4-6 8, A.Willis 1 0-0 2, Forrest 0 1-2 1, Vogel 1 0-0 3, Farnsworth 0 0-0 0, Hall 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12-33 15-23 40.

Pittsburg...... 13 7 9 11 -- 40

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 1-6 (K.Allen), Pittsburg 1-1 (Vogel).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 17, Pittsburg 23. Fouled out: L.Willis, A.Willis. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 33, Pittsburg 38. Turnovers: Fort Scott 18, Pittsburg 29.