Cordray, Mitchell lead state-ranked Nado over Tigers

COFFEYVILLE -- On the verge of being blown away by Coffeyville's Golden Tornado, Fort Scott High's boys fought back to take the lead midway through the third quarter of a key Southeast Kansas League game here Tuesday night.

But Coffeyville, ranked No. 7 in Class 4A by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, wrestled the lead back with a 11-2 run and held off the Tigers for a 71-60 victory to remain on top of the league standings at 7-0 (9-1 overall).

Ethan Cordray and zach Mitchell combined for 46 of Coffeyville's points. Only 6 Tornados scored but four of them reached double figures.

The SEK begins its second time through the double round-robin schedule Friday night with the Tigers (5-3, 7-5), Nado, Parsons (6-2, 10-2) and Pittsburg (4-2, 8-2 with its Tuesday result versus Iola unavailable at press time) all with a chance to throw a wrench into each other's championship aspirations. Fort Scott hosts Pittsburg for Homecoming while Parsons will play at Independence.

(UPDATE: After the original story went to press, the Pittsburg score arrived. Pittsburg defeated Iola, 45-30, to improve its record to 5-2, 9-2 and move into third pace in the SEK)

Coffeyville, which drew the league bye, will fill the hole in its schedule by playing a non-league contest at Miami, Okla.

A close first quarter early turned to Coffeyville's advantage when Cordray scored the first two baskets of a 8-3 run that ended the period and saw Coffeyville ahead 19-12.

The Nado built its lead by using its height advantage to crash the boards hard. Coffeyville held a 14-4 rebounding advantage in the period and finished with a 40-14 (unofficial) edge for the game.

The Tigers got back within 2 points as Gabe Quick hit a jumper and Gary Floyd nailed a 3-pointer in the early moments of the second period.

Fort Scott was within 26-23 when Coffeyville took control again and stretched the lead to 32-25 at the half with a 6-2 run. Drew Hobbs scored 4 of those points.

After Cameron Craig stretched that lead by 2 more points to begin the second half, the Tigers began to roll. Mikey Karleskint hit consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 34-29.

Cordray made two free throws. But then Quick hit a triple and Floyd stuck back a teammate's missed shot to bring the Tigers within 36-34.

Mitchell hit a 3-pointer for the Nado but Floyd answered with a 3 of his own. Quick tied it at 39-39 by driving in for a layup.

Hobbs countered with a layup for Coffeyville. Then Floyd gave Fort Scott its only lead of the night, 42-41, with a 3-point shot.

Cordray started the period-ending 11-2 run with a jumper. The run put the Nado in front for good, 52-44.

An 8-2 run to start the fourth made it 60-46 as the Tigers were out of gas after making the big rally. The closest they would get in the final stanza was 11 points.

Floyd led the Tigers with 22 points while Griffin Knopp added 13. Cordray led the Nado with 26 points while Mitchell had 20. Hobbs finished with 11 and Craig added 10

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FORT SCOTT: Stark 1 1-2 4, Quick 3 0-0 7, Hull 1 0-1 2, Thorpe 0 0-0 0, Karleskint 3 0-0 6, Floyd 8 2-2 22, Knopp 5 3-5 13, Harper 2 0-0 6, Fancher 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 23-49 6-10 60.

COFFEYVILLE: Hobbs 5 1-1 11, Mitchell 7 4-5 20, Craig 4 2-2 10, Cordray 9 6-6 26, Parker 0 0-0 0, Meier 1 0-0 2 , Walton 0 0-0 0, Smallwood 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 27-52 13-14 71.

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 8-22 (Floyd 4, Harper 2, Stark Quick), Coffeyville 4-11 (Mitchell 2, Craig 2).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 11, Coffeyville 9. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 14, Coffeyville 40. Assists: n/a. Turnovers: Fort Scott 7, Coffeyville 14. Steals: Fort Scott 3, Coffeyville 0. Blocked shots: n/a.