Fourth-quarter success leads to Fort Scott sweep: Defense, free throws bring boys victory

LOUISBURG, Kan. -- Fort Scott's defense held Louisburg without a field goal for about 12 minutes in the second half here Friday night as Tiger boys defeated Louisburg in the final game before the holiday break, 57-52.

The Tigers (4-2) took the lead again for good early in the fourth quarter at 38-37 when Griffin Knopp scored on a layup. Johnathan Stark hit a 3-point shot and Knopp scored again to cap a period-opening 7-0 run.

Stark had his best game of the season, scoring 14 points, while Knopp managed to find a way to boost his team when it was most needed despite struggling on offense before fouling out.

Fort Scott made 14 of 20 free throws in the final 4 1/2 minutes while holding the Wildcats (3-3) to 6-of-25 field-goal shooting in the second half.

Louisburg didn't make a field goal in the fourth quarter until Daniel O'Connor hit a 3-point shot with 42 seconds remaining to bring the Wildcats within 52-48. Louisburg scored two more 2-point goals in the final 30 seconds but Cameron Woodring made 5 of 6 free throws in that time as well to help preserve the victory for the Tigers.

Gabe Quick added 11 points for Fort Scott, scoring 9 of them on three 3-point goal in the first quarter, the last of those cutting a deficit to 17-16 at the end of the period.

Fort Scott scored 7 of the first 10 points of the second, going up 23-20 on a Kyle Altic stickback. But Louisburg scored 11 of the final 12 points of the half and went into the locker room leading 31-24.

O'Connor and Garrett Griffin scored to open the third period and boost the Wildcat lead to 11 points. The Tigers scored 12 of the final 14 of the period, getting within 37-36 at the last break on Stark's 3-point shot.

Fort Scott shot 52 percent from the field in the game, connecting of 16 of 31 field-goal attempts. The Tigers were also 7 of 15 from 3-point range. Louisburg shot 36 percent for the night on 18 of 50. The Wildcats did outrebound Fort Scott, 31-24.

Kody Cook led Louisburg with 17 points while Griffin added 13.

Fort Scott is idle until Jan. 4 when the Tigers travel to Parsons.

FORT SCOTT: Stark 4 4-6 14, Quick 3 2-3 11, Thorpe 1 4-5 6, Wright 1 0-0 2, Woodring 2 5-6 10, Knopp 3 3-8 9, Harper 1 0-0 3, Rienbolt 0 0-0 0, Altic 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 16-31 18-28 57.

LOUISBURG: Cook 5 4-4 17, O'Connor 2 0-0 5, Embers 2 1-2 6, Griffin 4 5-9 13, Dvorak 2 0-1 4, Ewy 2 1-1 5, N.Daugherty 1 0-0 2, A.Daugherty 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18-50 11-17 52.

Louisburg.......... 17 14 6 15 -- 52

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 7-15 (Quick 3, Stark 2, Woodring, Harper), Louisburg 5-17 (Cook 3, O'Connor, Embers).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 19, Louisburg 21. Fouled out: Knopp, Embers, Dvorak. Technical fouls: None.

Rebounds: Fort Scott 24, Louisburg 31. Assists: n/a. Turnovers: Fort Scott 10, Louisburg 8 Steals: Fort Scott 1, Louisburg 4.