Panthers bounce 'Hounds, 100-76

CHANUTE -- Five Neosho County players scored in double figures here Tuesday night as the Panthers bounced Fort Scott Community College's men, 100-76.

It was the first game since Dec. 9 for the Greyhounds, who fell to 5-10. Neosho County is 15-1.

Kevin House scored 22 points to lead Fort Scott and Mabor Gabriel added 15 before fouling out. Chris Parker brought 10 points off the bench.

B.J. Jenkins led Neosho County with 23 points while Joseph Acuil added 22 off the bench, making 7 of 9 field-goal attempts. Kyler Steadman scored 18 points for the Panthers, Charles Cooper 14 and Brett Frantz 10.

This was a non-conference game as the Jayhawk Conference moved its four Division II schools -- Fort Scott, Kansas City, Johnson County and Highland --into their own division this season.

Fort Scott trailed just 12-8 with 15:34 left in the first half following a Davis basket. Neosho County pushed the lead to 18 points several times in the next 8 1/2 minutes, the last at 37-19 with 6:57 on the clock.

A basket by House with 8 seconds left brought the 'Hounds within 45-37 at the half. Johnson scored the first field goal of the second half.

A Gabriel basket off a Johnson assist cut the deficit to 53-48 with 16:16 to go. But Neosho County scored 10 of the next 12 points.

The Panthers scored 20 straight points midway through the half to make it 85-54 with 7:43 remaining. The largest lead was 34 points, 91-57, with 6:42 remaining.

Neosho County shot 53 percent from the field, making 31 of 58 field-goal attempts. Fort Scott shot 35 percent on 29 of 83.

The Greyhounds will play two more former division opponents this weekend at the Cowley Classic in Arkansas City. Fort Scott will take on Labette at 5 p.m. Friday and face host Cowley at 3 p.m. Saturday.

FORT SCOTT: Hall 0-4 0-0 0, Gabriel 5-13 5-6 15, Johnson 2-9 1-4 5, Davis 3-7 0-0 6, House 8-23 5-7 22, Harrington 1-3 0-0 2, Parker 4-7 2-2 10, McCormack 2-4 0-0 6, Knight 1-2 0-1 2, Rose 1-5 0-0 2, Rowe 2-4 0-2 6, Stroman 0-2 0-0 0, Brantley 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 29-83 13-22 76.

NEOSHO COUNTY: Buckley 2-3 0-0 4, Frantz 4-7 2-2 10, Jenkins 8-18 5-5 23, Steadman 4-7 9-12 18, Cooper 4-6 6-6 14, Downing 1-2 1-2 3, Honore 0-3 2-2 2, Acuil 7-9 7-8 21, Garland 1-3 2-2 4, Hernandez 0-1 1-2 1. TOTALS: 31-58 35-41 100.

Halftime: Neosho County, 45-37.

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 5-23 (McCormack 2-4, Rowe 2-4, House 1-5, Hall 0-2, Johnson 0-2, Stroman 0-2, Rose 0-4), Neosho County 3-10 (Jenkins 2-4, Steadman 1-1, Downing 0-1, Frantz 0-2, Garland 0-2).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 26, Neosho County 21. Fouled out: Gabriel, Buckley, Hernandez. Technical fouls: Fort Scott bench.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 42 (Gabriel 8), Neosho County 45 (Steadman 9, Acuil 9). Assists: Fort Scott 16 (House 4), Neosho County 16 (Jenkins 6). Turnovers: Fort Scott 10, Neosho County 12. Steals: Fort Scott 6 (Harrington 2), Neosho County 5 (Jenkins 4). Blocked shots: Fort Scott 2 (Parker 2), Neosho County 10 (Buckley 4, Acuil 4).