Tigers take down hosts; one away from title

FRONTENAC -- Fort Scott High's girls are one victory away from clinching the first-ever Frontenac Kansas National Guard Invitational following Friday night's 56-45 victory over the host Raiders.

If the Tigers (2-0 tournament, 6-5 overall) should lose to Baxter Springs in the finale of the round-robin tournament this afternoon, they could possibly still win the title on tie-breakers. But beating the Lions (6-3) will take things out of the hands of mathematicians.

Baxter Springs defeated Kansas City, Mo., Hogan Prep Friday night. The Lions lost to Frontenac (8-2) in Thursday's first-round game, 54-53.

The Tigers and Lions will face each other at 2:45 p.m. in the "old" gym at Frontenac High School wile the Raiders face Hogan Prep at 4:30 in the "new" gym.

The Raiders had won eight straight games since losing their season opener against Colgan. But the Tigers, winners of six of their last seven, led 13-6 after one and improved that lead to 16 points when Ashley Cook hit three consecutive 3-point shots to start the second quarter.

Fort Scott led 31-17 at the half and kept Frontenac at bay in the third as the teams traded score for score. Katren Rienbolt's 3-pointer made it 45-26 after three.

The Raiders got within 50-40 with 2:14 to go. But Sidney Maycumber drove in for a basket and Rienbolt made 2 free throws with 1:03 left to get the margin back up to 14.

Cook led all scorers with 19 points. She's scored 32 points and made 7 triples in two tournament games. Rienbolt added 14 points, 12 of those in the second half.

Bailey Flora led Frontenac with 18 points. Hailey Wilson chipped in with 11 for the Raiders, who saw only three other players score.

Frontenac made just 9 of 22 free throws while Fort Scott went 7 for 11. The Tigers outrebounded the Raiders, 33-22.

FORT SCOTT: Tourtillott 0 0-1 0, Shoemaker 0 0-0 0, Allen 1 0-0 2, Sh.Maycumber 1 0-0 2, Rienbolt 5 3-4 14, Floyd 1 0-0 2, Cook 7 1-1 19, Si.Maycumber 4 1-2 9, Lawrence 3 0-0 6, Lattimer 0 2-3 2. TOTALS: 22-45 7-11 56.

FRONTENAC: Hipfl 0 0-2 0, Long 0 0-2 0, Gorham 0 0-0 0, Wilson 2 5-7 11, Warrick 2 0-1 5, Cicero 0 0-0 0, Palumbo 2 0-0 6, McCartney 2 0-0 5, Coomes 0 0-0 0, Flora 7 4-10 18. TOTALS: 15-35 9-22 45.

Frontenac............ 6 11 9 19 -- 45

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 5-13 (Cook 4, Rienbolt), Frontenac 6-16 (Wilson 2, Palumbo 2, Warrick, McCartney).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 20, Frontenac 15. Fouled out: Lawrence. Technical fouls: Frontenac bench.