Tiger boys knock off No. 4 Parsons, move into second place in SEK

PARSONS -- Fort Scott High's boys moved into second place in the Southeast Kansas League Tuesday night, beating Parsons 49-44 in league action here at Harold C. Johnson Gymnasium.

SEK leader Independence received a scare from Labette County before prevailing in overtime at Altamont, 61-55. Pittsburg beat Coffyville, which entered the night tied for third with Fort Scott, 81-74 in overtime.

The standings now show Independence on top at 4-0 in the SEK and 11-5 overall. Fort Scott is second at 3-1, 12-4. Parsons, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A this week in the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Poll, fell into a tie for third with Pittsburg at 2-1 (The Vikings are 13-2 overall, Pittsburg 9-6). Coffeyville is in fifth place at 2-2, 11-5.

The Tigers' win broke a 3-game losing streak against the Vikings. Coincidentally, the last time Fort Scott beat Parsons was also at Harold C. Johnson Gymnasium.

Fort Scott led at each quarter break, 15-14 after one and 26-23 at halftime after Parsons missed a 3-point shot after working the last minute of the half off the clock. Brady Fink's free throws put the Tigers ahead 35-34 after three.

Fort Scott made just one field goal in the fourth quarter but went 12 of 17 at the free-throw line. The Tiger defense held the Vikings to 4-of-14 field-goal shooting in the final stanza.

Tevin Johnson converted a steal into a layup with less than a minute remaining to bring Parsons within 45-42. Tyler Adams made three of four free throws in the next 23 seconds. Then Kyle Altic drew a charge on Johnson -- which was his fifth foul -- with 31 seconds left.

Adams led the Tigers with 14 points while Altic and Cameron Woodring each finished with 11. Johnson led the Vikings with 15 points and James Jackson chipped in with 10.

Overall, Fort Scott made 13 of 34 field-goal attempts for 38 percent and 16 of 25 free throws. Parsons shot 37 percent on 18 of 49 field-goal shooting while making just 2 of 16 three-point attempts and 6 of 13 free throws.

The Tigers outrebounded Parsons 31-27 and turned the ball over just 11 times.

The Tigers host Iola in SEK play Friday night in their Winter Homecoming game. The Mustangs (1-2, 8-7) were idle Tuesday night.

FORT SCOTT: Stark 0 3-4 3, Adams 3 5-8 14, Wright 0 1-2 1, Fink 1 2-3 4, Woodring 3 3-6 11, Pytlowany 0 0-0 0, Altic 5 1-1 11, Durbin 2 1-1 5. TOTALS: 14-34 16-25 49.

PARSONS: Krull 2 0-2 4, Jackson 5 0-2 10, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Johnson 5 5-7 15, Beachner 2 0-0 6, Kelly 3 1-2 7. TOTALS: 18-49 6-13 44.

Parsons........... 14 9 11 10 -- 44

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 5-13 (Adams 3, Woodring 2), Parsons 2-16 (Beachner 2).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 14, Parsons 19. Fouled out: Johnson. Technical fouls: none.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 31, Parsons 27. Turnovers: Fort Scott 11, Parsons 7.