Fort Scott boys dominate Girard, 60-27

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott High's boys dominated Girard at the FSHS gymnasium Friday night, shooting 53 percent from the field and turning the ball over just 11 times in a 60-27 victory.

The Tigers (7-2) used a 12-0 run at the end of the first half to break things open, taking a 35-12 lead into the locker room. It was a night head coach Jeff DeLaTorre had been looking for his team to have since its return from the holiday break.

"Tonight we put it together for four quarters and that's where we have to be," DeLaTorre, whose team goes to the Basehor-Linwood Invitational next week, said. "Next week, we'll have to play like this. If you do those things every night, you give yourself a chance to win."

Girard (3-7) held the lead once, at 4-2. Fort Scott scored the next 11 and never looked back. The lead was 19-9 after one.

The Tiger defense performed as well as its offense, holding the Trojans to 1-of-9 field-goal shooting in the second period. Fort Scott's run began with back-to-back Daniel Durbin layups and ended with Cameron Woodring assisting on 3 straight baskets.

Woodring made 6 of 9 shots from the field in tying Tyler Adams for high score with 14 points. Woodring also handed out 7 assists and hauled down 6 rebounds, both game highs.

"He's an unselfish kid, number one," DeLaTorre said of Woodring. "He does a great job of seeing the floor. There are passes sometimes where we just go, 'Wow, how did he do that?' He's done a great job of developing all aspects of his game."

Fort Scott scored 11 of the first 13 points of the third quarter to extend its lead to 46-14. Girard managed its one lone run of the contest, scoring the next 7, but the Tigers took a 50-21 advantage into the fourth. Adams' basket with 5:17 remaining made it 54-23, invoking the 30-point running-clock rule.

Durbin scored 10 points off the bench. Adams was the team leader in steals with 4.

No one scored more than 2 field goals for Girard, whose high scorer was Kyle Eckelberry with 5 points.

The Tigers forced 20 turnovers, collected 11 steals and outrebounded the Trojans 29-20.

"We wanted to get after it and execute on the defensive end," DeLaTorre said. "And I thought we did a good job of that. The second quarter, we cranked it up even another notch. It was a very good thing to see."

Fort Scott will face Park Hill, Mo., at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the Basehor-Linwood Tournament.

Junior varsity: Austin Sather scored 10 points as Fort Scott defeated Girard 41-34.

FORT SCOTT 60, GIRARD 27