Harrison sweeps Tigers in Four-State openers

WILLARD, Mo. -- Big nights from their most experienced players weren't enough as a Fort Scott High's basketball teams each lose their season openers at the Willard Four-State Classic here Thursday afternoon.

The girls opened the tournament and got 21 points from senior Ashley Cook, who made 5 3-point baskets. But that effort wasn't enough to prevent a 63-43 loss to Harrison, Ark.

Senior Kaleb DeLaTorre also made 5 3-pointers and finished with 18 points to lead all scorers. But Harrison took the lead for good around the two-minute mark and went on to a 47-43 win.

Willard's teams faced Broken Arrow in the late games. Broken Arrow led the girls' game 58-5 at the half on its way to an 84-23 rout. Mia Bledsoe and Jordi Allen led Broken Arrow (1-0) with 13 points each. Joran Stout-Mitchell scored 10 points for Willard (1-2).

Broken Arrow's boys (1-0) defeated Willard, 61-53. Jacob Knudson led B.A. with 18 points. Sam Bird paced Willard (0-2) with 20 points.

Harrison boys 47, Fort Scott 43.

The Tigers scored the first 8 points of the game with DeLaTorre making the first two of his 3-pointers. But the Goblins (3-0) went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for the first time.

Josh Hudiburg beat the buzzer to bring Fort Scott within 12-10 at the end of the quarter. But Trevor Atwell hit a basket and Braeden Bowen connected on a 3-pointer to make it 17-10 early in the third.

Fort Scott didn't score its first point of the quarter until DeLaTorre made a free throw with 3:51 to go. But the Tigers scored 8 of the last 11 of the half with Hudiburg again beating the buzzer to bring Fort Scott within 22-18.

Grant Goldston scored 6 straight midway through the third to help Fort Scott regain the lead. He converted a 3-point play with 5:04 to go, then put the Tigers up 27-26 with a 3-point goal less than a minute later.

Jackson Marseilles started the fourth quarter for the Goblins with a 3-point shot that put his team ahead 31-27. But DeLaTorre hit a 3-pointer to spark an 8-2 run, capped by Ryan Thomas' triple to make it 35-33.

Atwell put Harrison up by 3 with 3:45 left, his stickback making it 39-36. But Devonte Robinson scored a 3-pointer to tie the score with 2:50 left.

Marseilles converted a 3-point play moments later to put Harrison in front. Tanner Curry made 2 of 2 free throws to make it 44-39.

Austin Cook brought the Tigers within 3 with 1:12 left. DeLaTorre scored a jumper to bring the Tigers within 45-43 with six seconds left. But Curry made two free throws with four seconds to go.

Cook followed DeLaTorre in scoring for the Tigers with 9 points. Fort players scored all but one of Harrison's points. Atwell, Curry and Marseilles each scored 12 and Boren added 10.

Harrison girls 63, Fort Scott 43.

The Goblins (2-2), who defeated Springfield-Hillcrest 52-44 on Tuesday, led after one period 14-2.

Cook made back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second to help bring the Tigers within 20-11. They cut the deficit to 9 a few more times but could never get closer.

Madison Cook added 8 points for the Tigers. Briley Due, who scored 17 versus Fort Scott last season, and McKenzie Glenn each scored 12 points for Harrison while Emily Harp added 10.

Today's games have Broken Arrow's teams facing Harrison with the girls' game at 4 p.m. and the boys at 5:30. Fort Scott takes on host Willard with the girls' contest tipping off at 7 p.m. and the boys' teams squaring off at 8:30.

NOTES -- Harrison is the only school here that does not call its teams the Tigers....

Both Willard boys and girls lead their series with Fort Scott 16-11...

Although Harrison was a part of the first Four-State Classic in 1988-89, only Willard and Fort Scott have participated in all 27 previous editions of the tournament....

Girls

FORT SCOTT: Torres 1 0-0 2, J.Denton 1 1-3 3, Brown 0 0-0 0, Westhoff 0 0-0 0, Hale 2 3-4 7, A.Cook 7 2-2 21, H.Denton 0 0-0 0, M.Cook 1 6-10 8, Reed 0 0-0 0, Dwyer 1 0-1 2. TOTALS: 13 12-20 43.

HARRISON, Ark.: Clemence 3 1-2 7, Glenn 5 2-3 12, Harp 4 2-3 10, Wyatt 2 0-0 4, Due 3 4-5 12, Auman 3 0-0 7, Knight 1 0-0 2, Allgeier 0 0-0 0, Wallis 0 0-0 0, Horn 0 3-4 3, Knapp 0 2-2 2, Simpson 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 23 14-19 63.

Harrison....... 14 11 14 24 -- 63

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 5 (A.Cook 5), Harrison 3 (Due 2, Auman)

Total fouls: Fort Scott 15, Harrison 19. Fouled out: Harp, Allgeier.

Boys

FORT SCOTT: DeLaTorre 6 1-3 18, Goldston 2 1-1 6, Thomas 1 0-0 3, Hudiburg 2 0-0 4, Stepps 0 0-1 0, Robinson 1 0-0 3, Southwell 0 0-0 0, Phillips 0 0-0 0, Cook 4 1-3 9. TOTALS: 16 3-8 43.

HARRISON, Ark.: Atwell 5 2-2 12, Boren 4 0-1 10, Marseilles 5 1-1 12, Curry 3 6-9 12, Jenkins 0 1-2 1, Johnson 0 0-0 0, Youngblood 0 0-0 0, Ditmanson 0 0-0 0, Weber 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17 10-16 47.

Harrison....... 12 10 6 19 -- 47

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 8 (DeLaTorre 5, Goldston, Thomas, Robinson), Harrison 3 (Boren 2, Marseilles).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 17, Harrison 16. Fouled out: None.