Fort Scott Tribune: High School Sports: Time runs out for Tigers as Trojans hold on (03/05/09)

OTTAWA -- Fort Scott High's boys rallied from a 17-point deficit to get within two points late in the fourth quarter of a Ottawa Class 4A Sub-State semifinal game here Thursday night. But while the Tigers gave everything they had in their rally, they were unable to sustain the momentum and third-seeded Osawatomie went on to a 50-42 win.

The loss ends Fort Scott's season with a 14-8 record, although the second-seeded Tigers did win eight of their last 10 games after starting the season 6-6.

Osawatomie (15-7) won its 10th straight game after starting the season 5-7. The Pioneer League champion broke open a close game with a pair of Brandon Soucie drives and three straight three-point goals to take a 17-8 lead into the second quarter.

After failing to score in the first quarter, Alex Barner was the only Tiger to score in the second as the Trojans extended their lead. They shut out Fort Scott in the last 3:55 of the fourth and went into the locker room with a 30-15 advantage. It was the first time the Tigers had trailed at halftime since their last loss, to Coffeyville on Feb. 5.

Barner, who led all scorers with 25 points, continued to keep the Tigers in it as he scored his team's first eight points of the second half. By the time he hit a three-point shot to being Fort Scott within 34-23, he had scored 15 straight Tiger points.

Support came later in the period when Paul Norris scored, then Gary Floyd -- who had yet to score -- put in his first five points of the night. Another Barner basket to end the third brought the Tigers within 39-32.

The rally continued and Fort Scott got within one point twice in the fourth, the last time at 41-40 when Barner made a pair of free throws.

The Trojans scored the next six, with a breakaway basket by Brandon Ochs' with a minute to go effectively putting the game out of reach.

Fort Scott made only 17 of 54 field-goal attempts for 31 percent while Osawatomie was 21 of 44 for 48 percent. The Tigers just outrebounded the Trojans, 35-34.

Barner was the only Tiger in double figures. Soucie led Osawatomie with 14 points and Seth Jones added 13.

The Trojans will go on to play top-seeded Ottawa (16-6) in the boys' championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Girls' semifinal action takes place tonight as No. 2-seed Fort Scott takes on No. 3 Ottawa at 6 p.m. followed by No. 4 Louisburg taking on top-seed Paola at 7:30.

According to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, Fort Scott is No. 9 in Class 4A while Paola is No. 2. Both Ottawa and Louisburg had been ranked earlier this season.

Courtesy of the Ottawa Herald

(3) OSAWATOMIE: Oakes 1 0-2 2, Needham 3 0-0 7, Soucie 7 0-2 14, Marsh 2 1-2 6, Vail 4 0-0 8, Jones 4 3-4 13. TOTALS: 21 4-10 50.

(2) FORT SCOTT: Quick 0 0-0 0, Floyd 2 0-0 5, Clements 0 2-2 2, Knopp 2 0-0 4, Norris 3 0-0 6, Schenkel 0 0-1 0, Barner 10 3-4 25. TOTALS: 17 5-8 42.

Osawatomie....... 17 13 9 11 -- 50

Fort Scott...... 8 7 17 10 -- 42

Three-point field goals: Osawatomie 4 (Jones 2, Needham, Marsh), Fort Scott (Barner 2, Floyd).

Total fouls: Osawatomie 8, Fort Scott 16. Fouled out: none.