COLUMBUS -- Some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch helped Fort Scott High's girls hold off a late Columbus rally here Tuesday night as the Tigers defeated the Titans, 47-39, in Southeast Kansas League play.

Although the final margin was 12 points. Columbus had it down to four points twice early in the final stanza. But the Tigers made six of eight free throws in the final 1:24 to keep the Titans at bay.

The Tigers (10-2 SEK, 11-5 overall) held the lead the entire game with the exception of a brief 2-2 tie. They led 12-7 after one period after Rachel Allen's layup to end the first.

Fort Scott began puling away early in the second quarter when Jolee Sharp started a six-point run by driving for a layup. Afton Gray, who did not start as usual because she missed Monday's practice, made a pair of free throws and Kori Page Rienbolt drove for another layup to make it an 18-9 lead with just around four minutes to go.

Fort Scott had to work most of the half without point guard Joce Allen, who had foul problems. But Brittany Bingesser, who started for Gray, was able to fill in well in the first half and Allen started the second half off by finding Sharp for a quick layup, making it 26-15.

Sharp scored four points in a six-point run that boosted the lead to 34-19 with around three minutes to go as Fort Scott's pressure defense created some Columbus turnovers.

But the Titans got back into things later in the period as Maddie Overman figured out how to score or get her teammates into position to score in the final minute of the third. Danielle Crain scored the first two points of a quarter-ending run on a layup. Overman scored the next four on a pair of free throws and then going coast to coast with a defensive rebound. She found Crain for a layup to end the period and Columbus trailed only 35-29.

Crain brought the Titans within four with a pair of free-throws to start the fourth. But the Tigers were able to maintain the lead and got it up to 41-33 on a transition basket by Gray.

Overman cut that lead to three by hitting a three-pointer with 3:03 to go. But, after a Columbus turnover, the Tigers were able to burn over a minute off the clock before the Titans finally decided to foul Bingesser, who made both free throws, with 1:24 remaining.

Overman scored with 47 seconds left but Rienbolt made a pair of free throws seconds later to make it 45-38 and Sharp was fouled on a rebound after the Titans missed a couple of shots, making both of the resulting charity tosses.

Overman led all scorers with 20 points in a losing effort. She was just one of five Titans to score and just one of two with more than six points.

Sharp led the Tigers with 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Rienbolt added nine and Gray, despite not starting, finished with eight.

The Tigers shot 43 percent from the field, making 17 of 40 field-goal attempts. The Tigers shot 32 percent on 13 of 41.

Columbus led in rebounding, 32-28, as Overman brought down nine boards. Fort Scott committed 17 turnovers -- but only one in the fourth quarter -- to 15 for the Titans.

Fort Scott travels to Chanute Friday night for another league game. Tip-off at the Ralph Miller Gymnasium should take place around 6:15 p.m.

The Blue Comets (4-7, 6-9) have lost their last three games, including Tuesday night's 54-45 verdict against Iola.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Fort Scott defeated Columbus, 42-14, in a game that was just three quarters long because Columbus doesn't have a lot of players out. Erin Coffman scored 11 points for the Tigers while Jamie Collins added nine.

FRESHMEN -- There was no freshmen game due to a lack of players at Columbus.

FORT SCOTT: Gray 2-9 3-4 8, J.Allen 3-5 0-2 6, Sharp 6-10 3-4 15, Simpson 0-1 0-1 0, Rienbolt 3-6 2-2 9, Hawkins 2-5 0-0 4, Bingesser 0-0 3-6 3, Dikeman 0-2 0-0 0, R. Allen 1-2 0-0 2. TOTALS: 17-40 11-19 47.

COLUMBUS: Stover 0-1 0-0 0, M.Overman 5-13 9-11 20, K.Overman 0-0 0-0 0, Crain 3-6 3-4 9, Roberts 1-2 0-0 2, Stanley 3-11 0-2 6, DeRusse 1-8 0-0 2. TOTALS: 13-41 12-17 39.

Fort Scott............... 12 12 11 12 -- 47

Columbus................ 7 8 14 10 -- 39

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 2-8 (Rienbolt 1-1, Gray 1-5, Dikeman 0-2), Columbus 1-5 (M.Overman 1-3, Stover 0-1, Stanley 0-1).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 14, Columbus 17. Fouled out: none. Technical foul: none.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 28 (Sharp 9), Columbus 32 (M.Overman 9). Assists: Fort Scott 6 (Gray 2), Columbus 6 (M.Overman 3). Turnovers: Fort Scott 17, Columbus 15. Steals: Fort Scott 8 (Sharp 4), Columbus 6 (n/a). Blocked shots: Fort Scott 2, Columbus 1 (team leaders n/a).