Boys hold off Comets

Fort Scott High senior Gary Floyd (23) and Chanute's Cory Henshall (31) clash under the basket as Floyd tries to score during the first half of boys' play. Floyd scored 23 points for the boys, leading all scorers in the Tigers' 57-56 victory.
(Kenny Felt/Captured Images)

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The Tigers, who improved to 4-1 in the SEK and 5-3 overall, lost a pair of close games earlier in the season. One was in overtime at Willard when a controversial decision to add time to the clock allowed the tournament hosts to escape with an 86-84 overtime victory. The other was when Easton Julian hit a last-second shot to give Independence a 61-59 win on Dec. 15.

In this game, the Tigers trailed 56-55 with less than 30 seconds remaining. Out of a time out, Floyd dribbled the ball upcourt and attempted a layup but missed. Chanute's Griffin Williams got the rebound but Floyd stole it away and put the ball through for the go-ahead layup with 15.5 seconds remaining.

Chanute brought the ball to half court and called time out. On the inbound play, Dustin Eccles got a good look at a 3-point shot but missed. Chanute's 6' 7" center, Cory Henshall, got the rebound but missed the put-back and Floyd came away from the mass with the ball as time expired.

"There hasn't really been any night where we've been able to take control of the game and cruise," Fort Scott head coach Jeff DeLaTorre said. "I think we're starting to learn from things that happened in those other games."

The Tigers didn't shoot as well from the field or from the free-throw line as Chanute (1-4, 2-4) but outrebounded the Blue Comets, 31-28, and committed just 12 turnovers to Chanute's 20.

Chanute led 18-15 after one quarter and 28-25 at the half. Fort Scott opened the second half with a 9-2 run on its way to a 41-38 lead after three periods.

The fourth quarter swayed back and forth with the Comets taking their final lead on Henshall's free throws with 31 seconds remaining.

Floyd finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals for the Tigers. Cody Harper made 6 of 8 shots from the field in finishing with a varsity-high 15 points, making some key shots in the third period.

Henshall led the Comets with 22 points and 11 boards.

The Tigers play host to state-ranked and SEK-leading Parsons Friday night.

NOTES -- Logan Fancher saw his first varsity action of the season as he returned from a pre-season injury. He blocked a shot just moments after he took the court and grabbed two rebounds....

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Cameron Woodring scored 17 points in leading the Tigers to a 54-34 victory over Chanute. Jonathan Stark, Jaret Thorpe and Pierce Reinbolt each scored 10 points for the Tigers.

CHANUTE: Haight 0-5 0-0 0, Williams 1-4 5-7 7, Hale 0-0 0-0 0, Eccles 5-7 4-5 16, Parish 0-5 4-4 4, Wood 1-1 0-1 2, Bollig 1-2 0-0 2, Henshall 9-14 4-6 22, Miner 1-1 0-0 3, Schooley 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18-39 17-23 56.

FORT SCOTT: Stark 0-4 2-2 2, Quick 4-8 0-0 9, Hull 0-0 0-3 0, Karleskint 0-1 0-0 0, Floyd 6-23 10-13 23, Woodring 0-0 0-0 0, Knopp 4-5 0-2 8, Harper 6-8 0-0 15, Fancher 0-2 0-0 0. TOTALS: 20-51 12-20 57.

Chanute............ 18 10 10 18 -- 56

Fort Scott.......... 15 10 16 16 -- 57

Three-point field goals: Chanute 3-14 (Eccles 2-4, Miner 1-1, Williams 0-2, Parish 0-3, Haight 0-4), Fort Scott 5-18 (Harper 3-5, Quick 1-4, Floyd 1-7, Stark 0-2).

Total fouls: Chanute 19, Fort Scott 21. Fouled out: None. Technical foul: Knopp.

Rebounds: Chanute 28 (Henshall 11), Fort Scott 31 (Floyd 6, Knopp 6). Assists: Chanute 5 (5 with 1 each), Fort Scott 9 (Floyd 3). Turnovers: Chanute 20, Fort Scott 12. Steals: Chanute 6 (Williams 3), Fort Scott 8 (Floyd 6). Blocked shots: Chanute 2 (Henshall 2), Fort Scott 1 (Fancher).