'Hound women denied as free thows fail to fall

Sophomore Burgandie Lewis, seen here in action earlier this season, scored 15 points and grabbed 20 rebounds as the only post player dressed for Wednesday night's game against Labette. Her effort was not enough as the Greyhounds fell, 48-46. (Tribune file photo)

With only five dressed out, Fort Scott Community College's women had a chance to force overtime against Labette in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play at Arnold Arena Wednesday night.

Sophomore Burgandie Lewis -- the only post player dressed as D'Shawna Lee was suspended -- went to the free-throw line with five seconds left, looking to tie the score.

But she couldn't make either charity shot -- the conclusion of an agonizing 1-for-8 performance there, and the 'Hounds had to foul on the rebound.

Fortunately for Fort Scott, Labette wasn't doing much better at the foul line and Shawnee Phillips missed both free throws with four seconds left. Lewis got the rebound and the ball found its way to Malori Gales, whose 25-footer at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced away.

Final score: Labette 48, Fort Scott 46.

But the Greyhounds (0-13 East, 4-21 overall) put themselves into a position to win -- if only they could have made more than just 6 of their 18 free-throw attempts.

"Free throws are easy, 'pride shots,' as I call them," Fort Scott head coach Katie Reihmann said. "We practice them more than anyone out there knows. And it keeps getting us. I'm hoping in these last few games, we take more pride in them. Those are things we can control -- we can control our free throws."

Lewis' effort was outstanding in every other area. She scored 15 points, finding her way inside for some tough baskets, and grabbed 20 rebounds -- 13 of those in the second half.

Sophomore Erika McKenzie had to become a power forward in Lee's absence and managed to get 13 rebounds herself. Malori Gales finished with 13 points and Rebecca Fisher came in with 10 points.

The teams came out with polar-opposite strategies. Fort Scott, even more short-handed than usual, was more successful initially of working the ball for the best shot and using the shot clock to keep the ball away from Labette (3-10, 10-15) as much as possible.

Now that Labette held on to the ball very long when it had it. The Cardinals' plan appeared to be to shoot the Greyhounds out of their own gym. But they were hitting next to nothing until the last five minutes of the first half.

Gales' personal 7-0 run -- 3 of 4 free throws and a pair of driving layups -- put Fort Scott up 18-12 with five minutes left. Labette, after making just 5 of its first 24 field-goal attempts, went on a 11-0 run that included three 3-point goals and took a 23-18 lead with 1:52 to go.

Fisher made one of two free throws with 1:10 left but that was the only point the 'Hounds scored in the final five minutes, going 1 of 12 from the field during that stretch.

But Fort Scott scored the first 6 points of the second half with McKenzie going in for a layup, Fisher hitting a triple and Lewis laying a shot in.

Labette went ahead again, stretching the lead to 39-31 with nine minutes left. They looked to have control of things, still leading 47-41 with 1:24 to go.

But McKenzie banked in a shot with 26 seconds to go. The 'Hounds fouled Shawnee Phillips, who made only one of the two free throws with 24 seconds left.

Fisher hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 15 seconds left. Fort Scott used its last time out, then fouled Ashley Lutz on the inbound play. She missed both free throws with 13 seconds left.

Phillips led Labette with 18 points while Lutz finished with 15. The Cardinals won despite making only 29 percent of their field-goal attempts on 19 of 66 and going just 3 for 10 at the free-throw line.

Fort Scott shot 33 percent from the field, making 18 of 55 field-goal attempts. They were barely edged on the boards, 50-48.

Gales also handed out 4 assists and in an odd stat, had Fort Scott's only steal of the night.

The Greyhounds play at Kansas City Kansas Saturday afternoon in a game that counts both in conference and toward seeding for post-season play in Region VI Division II. The Blue Devils are just ahead of Fort Scott in D-II standings, holding the No. 5 position.

Monday, Fort Scott will make the trek to Arkansas City for a 5 p.m. conference game against Cowley.

LABETTE: Dickey 2-7 2-4 6, Phillips 7-13 1-4 18, Lutz 6-12 0-2 15, Lee 2-10 0-0 5, Nicholas 1-12 0-0 2, Lis 0-3 0-0 0, Carver 0-1 0-0 0, Hocker 0-3 0-0 0, Russell 1-5 0-0 2. TOTALS: 19-66 3-10 48.

FORT SCOTT: Horn 0-5 0-0 0, Fisher 3-10 1-2 10, Gales 4-14 4-7 13, McKenzie 4-12 0-1 8, Lewis 7-14 1-8 15. TOTALS: 18-55 6-18 46.

Halftime: Labette, 23-19.

Three-point field goals: Labette 57-18 (Phillips 3-3, Lutz 3-5, Lee 1-7, Dickey 0-1, Carver 0-1, Hocker 0-1), Fort Scott 4-22 (Fisher 3-10, Gales 1-7, Horn 0-5).

Total fouls: Labette 19, Fort Scott 16. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Labette 50 (Nicholas 10), Fort Scott 48 (Lewis 20, McKenzie 13). Assists: Labette 5 (Nicholas 2), Fort Scott 8 (Gales 4). Turnovers: Labette 11, Fort Scott 14. Steals: Labette 7 (Dickey 2, Nicholas 2), Fort Scott 1 (Gales). Blocked shots: Labette 4 (Russell 2), Fort Scott 2 (Fisher, McKenzie).