Tigers hold off Fillies late in game

IOLA -- Early on Tuesday night, it looked as though Fort Scott High's girls would run away from Iola.

But the Fillies' 1-4 record entering the game was a bit deceiving and they made a game of it before the Tigers were able to hold on for a 47-42 victory in Southeast Kansas League play.

The Tigers (4-2 SEK, 5-4 overall) held a 14-4 lead after one period of play and were able to maintain a 10-point lead early in the second period.

But Iola (1-5, 1-5), though it never led, rallied several times. Mindy Powelson brought the Fillies within 21-19 with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. The Tigers managed to keep their lead by making 10 of 16 free throws in the period, offsetting the fact that they made only 1 of 6 field-goal attempts.

Jolee Sharp, who made 9 of 13 charity tosses, hit 5 free throws in the final 2:57 of the period to get the Tigers' lead back up to 26-21 going into halftime.

The Fillies got their defense under control in the third quarter and got within 28-26 early on after Jazmyne Honeycutt scored 5 straight points.

But Courtney Carpenter scored the second of her three 3-pointers to spark a short run that saw the Tigers get the lead back up to 9 points. However, Iola scored 8 of the last 10 with Kayla Callahan's basket off a Tiger turnover bringing the Fillies within 37-34 as the period closed.

Scoring didn't come easily to either team early in the fourth quarter. Sharp's 3-point goal was the only field goal in the first 4 1/2 minutes but Iola wasn't able to take advantage until Kendra Taciet scored a layup and then Maggie Wilson hit two free throws to bring the Fillies within 40-39 with 2:31 to go.

Sammi Therwhanger made two free throws for the Tigers with 2:25 remaining. Then Carpenter hit her third triple moments later to extend the lead to 45-39.

Sharp finished the night with 20 points. Only four other Tigers scored with Carpenter posting 9 and Therwhanger, Mallory Shelton and Megan McDermed each scoring 6.

Honeycutt led Iola with 13 points and Callahan finished with 8.

The Tigers will host Girard at the FSHS gymnasium Friday night in a non-league game. They will also welcome Parsons for a make-up SEK game on Monday.

Girard handed Independence its second loss of the season Tuesday night, beating the Bulldogs, 59-37.

Game time both night is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. following the girls' junior varsity contest.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Iola was the winner of the junior varsity game, 30-29. No other details were available.

NOTES -- Therwhanger, Shelton and Carpenter all had season-high point totals...

This was Fort Scott's fifth consecutive victory over Iola....

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FORT SCOTT: Sharp 5 9-13 20, Therwhanger 2 2-4 6, Carpenter 3 0-0 9, Shelton 2 2-4 6, Harper 0 0-0 0, Allen 0 0-0 0, McDermed 1 4-6 6, Campbell 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13 17-27 47.

IOLA: Faulhaber 0 0-0 0, Taiclet 3 0-0 7, Honeycutt 3 5-9 13, Callahan 4 0-3 8, McGuffin 0 0-0 0, Larson 2 1-2 5, Wilson 1 2-2 5, Powelson 2 0-0 4, Taylor 0 0-0 0, Greenwood 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15 8-16 42.

Fort Scott... 14 12 11 10 -- 47

Iola........ 4 17 13 8 -- 42

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 4 (Carpenter 3, Sharp), Iola 4 (Honeycutt 2, Taiclet, Wilson).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 16, Iola 22. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.