Pirates pillage 'Hounds

Monday, January 14, 2008
Fort Scott Community College's Fatima Lawrence (23) looks to score over Independence's Jolene Tamboue during the second half of play Saturday afternoon at Arnold Arena. The Greyhounds couldn't shake off a sluggish start and lost in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play, 72-47. (Fort Scott Community College photo/Iva Acri)

Independence's women took advantage of a short-handed Fort Scott Community College team and pulled away after the Greyhounds had managed to overcome their own sluggish start for a 72-47 Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division win at Arnold Arena Saturday.

It was an ugly start as both teams couldn't seem to do anything right at the beginning of the game. Nobody scored in the first 3 1/2 minutes and Fort Scott (1-2 KJCCC, 8-4 overall) didn't score its first field goal until a bit more than six minutes had elapsed.

"We're not meshing well," Roberts said. "We can't even score. Nobody wants the ball. Nobody knows who's supposed to have the ball. We're not running the right offenses."

To be fair, Fort Scott had fielded different lineups since they resumed play against Barton County Dec. 29. There have been injuries, eligibility issues and, as many first-year programs will endure, some dismissals. But the Greyhounds really haven't had the same exact squad dressed out yet this semester.

"And (the roster fluctuation) does have a lot to do with it," Richards said. "We're struggling. We don't have all our players, the ones who have been here since the beginning of the year. So it's tough, but we just have to fight through it."

Fatima Lawrence returned to the lineup Saturday but Brittany Watkins is now out with a knee injury that could cost her at least three weeks. The Greyhounds are also still without sophomore Amber Bowles, who should come back from an injury Wednesday. So Saturday, they dressed only seven players.

When neither team could get on track, it looked like it was going to be a long day. Independence (2-1, 9-6) got things together first and went on a 11-0 run that put it ahead 16-6 with 11 1/2 minutes left in the first half.

Then the 'Hounds began to get going, first with some transition hoops. When Leondra Doomes-Stephens capped the run by hitting a jump shot with 8:22 remaining, it was the first Fort Scott basket out of its set offense. But it also brought FSCC within 16-14.

Doomes-Stephens tied it at 22-22 with a jumper with 3:48 to go and it looked as if the Greyhounds might be able to beat the odds. But then Independence closed the half with a 16-5 run.

Perhaps disheartened by being in the game only to see Indy pull away or maybe just getting tired after playing its third straight game short-handed, the Greyhounds came out flat in the second half and the Pirates took advantage, using a 11-3 run to boost the margin to 52-34 with 10:37 left in the game.

Ashley Jappa recorded her fourth straight double-double and eighth of the season as she scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the 'Hounds. Doomes-Stephens led Fort Scott in scoring with 13 points and also picked up six steals.

Ashley Gladden was the only Pirate in double figures with 17 points, although six others had between six and nine points.

Fort Scott shot 26 percent from the field, making 12 of 46 field-goal attempts. The 'Hounds were just four of 25 in the second half.

Independence shot 44 percent on 26 of 59, going 14 for 28 in the second half. The Pirates also dominated the boards, 42-33, and forced 27 turnovers while committing 20.

The Greyhounds are in a stretch where they will play eight of 10 at home. The second game of this run is Wednesday night when they host Neosho County at Arnold Arena in a 5 p.m. tipoff.

"Hopefully, we can scrap a couple of wins together next week," Richards said. "We're at home for a while. Hopefully, once we get Amber (Bowles) back, we'll be better."

NOTES -- The Jayhawk Conference has listed the game that the Missouri Valley College junior varsity failed to show up for on Nov. 12 as a forfeit, giving the Greyhounds one more win....

INDEPENDENCE: Trimble 1-5 0-0 3, Hager 2-3 1-2 5, Gladden 5-6 7-7 17, Holman 0-7 2-2 2, Codio 3-5 1-3 8, Jones 3-7 1-2 7, Tamboue 3-5 1-2 7, Olanya 4-9 0-0 9, Morgan 3-6 2-2 8, Marshall 2-6 0-1 6. TOTALS: 26-59 15-21 72.

FORT SCOTT: Doomes-Stephens 4-13 5-6 13, Chaney 2-10 0-0 6, Doss 2-10 4-7 9, Lawrence 0-1 0-0 0, English 0-4 5-6 5, Jappa 4-7 4-5 12, Hancock 0-1 2-2 2. TOTALS: 12-46 20-26 47.

Halftime: Independence, 37-28

Three-point field goals: Independence 5-20 (Marshall 2-6, Codio 1-2, Trimble 1-4, Olanya 1-4, Holman 0-4), Fort Scott 3-17 (Chaney 2-6, Doss 1-4, English 0-1, Doomes-Stephens 0-3).

Total fouls: Independence 20, Fort Scott 17. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none.

Rebounds: Independence 42 (Tamboue 13), Fort Scott 33 (Jappa 11). Assists: Independence 10 (Holman 4), Fort Scott 4 (Doomes-Stephens 2, Chaney 2). Turnovers: Independence 20, Fort Scott 27. Steals: Independence 14 (Tamboue 3, Clark 3), Fort Scott 11 (Doomes-Stephens 6). Blocked shots: Independence 1 (Tamboue), Fort Scott 1 (Jappa).