Tiger boys rally to beat Parsons

PARSONS -- Gary Floyd's free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining completed Fort Scott High's rally as the Tigers bounced second-place Parsons, 40-39, in Southeast Kansas League play here Tuesday night.

Fort Scott (9-5 SEK, 11-7 overall) trailed 27-19 at halftime. But a 6-0 run at the end of the third period, with 4 points by Floyd and a buzz-beating stickback by Griffin Knopp, brought the Tigers within 34-30 as the fourth quarter started.

Parsons (9-4, 13-4) couldn't buy a basket at start of the period and had to rely on free throws to keep the lead. But Gabe Quick's only basket of the night, a 3-point shot, tied the score at 37-37 with 1:08 remaining.

Knopp was fouled as he was going for a layup after a steal and made the second of the two free throws to put the Tigers ahead with 55.6 seconds remaining.

Tarail Johnson made Parsons' only field goal of the period with 10.4 seconds to go to put the Vikings ahead again, 39-38.

Tevin Johnson tried to draw a charge on Floyd but was instead called for a block. Floyd put both free throws through with 1.8 seconds remaining.

The Tigers tipped the inbound pass out of bounds and the clock was set to 1.6 seconds. Parsons got the ball in but Gerald Austin's desperation show was put up after the buzzer sounded.

Fort Scott's defense stepped up in the second half, holding Parsons to 3-of-19 field-goal shooting. The Vikings didn't help themselves any by going just 3 of 9 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

Floyd led the Tigers with 14 points while Knopp added 10. Trey Thomas led Parsons with 10 points.

The only other time the Tigers led was after Cody Harper made it 10-7 on a 3-point shot with just over a minute left in the first quarter. The Vikings scored the next 9 points and pushed the lead to 17-10 with 6:10 left in the second.

Knopp scored a basket and Harper hit another triple to get Fort Scott within 2 with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the half.

The Tigers will host Iola for another Southeast Kansas League game Friday night. This will be Senior Night. Tip-off may be later than usual due to the activities scheduled.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- The Tiger JV lost to Parsons 52-50. Cameron Woodring scored 17 points and Jaret Thorpe added 16.

NOTES -- This was the lowest score in a Tiger victory since Fort Scott defeated St. Joseph (Mo.)-Benton 41-38 in the 2002 Basehor-Linwood Tournament....

Parsons defeated Fort Scott 43-40 in Fort Scott back on Jan. 18....

Labette County defeated Independence Tuesday night in double overtime, 82-79....

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FORT SCOTT: Stark 1 0-0 2, Quick 1 0-0 3, Hull 0 0-0 0, Ruhl 0 0-0 0, Karleskint 0 0-0 0, Floyd 5 3-3 14, Woodring 1 0-1 2, Knopp 4 2-6 10, Harper 2 3-4 9, Fancher 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14-39 8-14 50.

PARSONS: Krull 1 0-0 3, Jackson 0 0-0 0, Borovetz 3 0-0 8, Te.Johnson 1 0-0 2, Austin 2 0-1 5, Jones 0 0-0 0, Dhooghe 1 0-0 2, Ta.Johnson 4 0-0 9, Thomas 3 4-10 10. TOTALS: 15-42 4-11 39.

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 4-13 (Harper 2, Quick, Floyd), Parsons 5-15 (Borovetz 2, Krull, Austin, Ta.Johnson).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 13, Parsons 19. Fouled out: Hull. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 32, Parsons 27. Assists: n/a. Turnovers: Fort Scott 12, Parsons 9. Steals: Fort Scott 7, Parsons 9. Blocked shots: n/a.