Post game key as Kansas City downs 'Hound women

Fort Scott Community College's women finally shook off their offensive slump Wednesday night against Kansas City Kansas in a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division battle. But defending the post was the main issue on this night as the Blue Devils went on to a 64-57 victory that gives them a sweep of the season series and a tie-breaker when it comes to post-season tournament seeding.

Head coach Diana Couch wanted to keep KCK's 6-foot sophomore center, Mikenna Greathouse, under control. But she used her agility to help give the Devils a 14-point lead in the second half.

It didn't help that both of Fort Scott's main post players, Burgandie Lewis and Jataeva Arnold, got in foul trouble in the first half.

"We were expecting some post issues," Couch said. "But I wasn't expecting them to be that big of an issue. Our game plan was centered around (stopping) Mikenna Greathouse. We got in foul trouble early again. It's the same story."

However, Greathouse was injured on a play midway through the second half and Fort Scott (2-11 East, 7-17 overall) took advantage of her absence to go on a 13-0 run that cut the deficit to 47-46 with 5:37 remaining.

The Devils adjusted with LaTosha Ware going low post and moving guard Kayla Crowley to the high post. Crowley scored 8 points in a 10-2 run that boosted KCK's margin back up to 57-48 with 1:28 remaining.

But for the post play, Couch was mostly happy with her team's effort. After attempting just 40 field goals in a loss to Johnson County Saturday, the 'Hounds put up 57 shots Wednesday night. Long-range shooters Jolee Sharp and Brittany Pearl not only took the shots they needed to take but were also following up on those shots and getting rebounds. Pearl finished as Fort Scott's high rebounder with 13 and Sharp grabbed 10 as each recorded double-doubles. Each one scored 15 points. Cheyanne Ivy, who has been recovering from an injury, added 11 points as she sunk three 3-point shots in the second half.

Sharp scored 8 points during the Greyhounds' second-half run while Ivy scored 5. During that run, the Fort Scott defense forced the Devils to miss their first 8 field-goal attempts after the media time out at 9:51 of the second half.

Greathouse made 10 of 17 shots from the floor as she finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds for Kansas City (4-9, 13-12). Crowley made 7 of 13 fielders in finishing with 21 points of her own.

KCK shot 42 percent from the field, making 24 of 57 field-goal tries. Fort Scott finished at 33 percent on 19 of 57.

The Greyhounds outrebouned the Blue Devils, 47-37, but committed 20 turnovers.

The Greyhounds will travel Saturday to face the No. 7-ranked team in NCAA Division II, Highland, in a 1 p.m. tipoff. The Scotties (11-2, 23-2) defeated Labette 87-73 Wednesday night.

KANSAS CITY KANSAS: Birk 0-1 2-2 2, Blaurock 0-5 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Clement 3-4 0-0 8, Marusak 0-6 3-4 3, Montgomery 2-4 0-0 4, Crowley 7-13 6-6 21, Umutlu 0-2 0-0 0, Brooks 0-0 0-1 0, Greathouse 10-17 1-3 21, Ware 2-5 1-4 5. TOTALS: 24-57 13-30 64.

FORT SCOTT: Atherton 0-2 0-1 0, Crawford 0-0 1-2 1, Pearl 5-21 4-4 15, Smith 0-5 0-0 0, Ivy 4-7 0-0 11, Bradley 0-1 0-0 0, McKenzie 1-1 0-0 2, Sharp 4-10 7-7 15, Lewis 3-6 0-0 6, Arnold 2-4 3-6 7. TOTALS: 19-57 15-20 57.

Halftime: Kansas City Kansas, 28-23.

Three-point field goals: KCK 3-14 (Clement 2-3, Crowley 1-5, Birk 0-1, Umutlu 0-1, Marusak 0-4), Fort Scott 4-25 (Ivy 3-5, Pearl 1-11, Bradley 0-1, Sharp 0-3, Smith 0-5).

Total fouls: KCK 22, Fort Scott 19. Fouled out: Ware, Lewis. Technical fouls: none.

Rebounds: KCK 37 (Greathouse 9), Fort Scott 47 (Pearl 13, Sharp 10). Assists: KCK 9 (Crowley 3), Fort Scott 9 (three with 2 each). Turnovers: KCK 14, Fort Scott 20. Steals: KCK 9 (three with 2 each), Fort Scott 9 (Atherton 2, McKenzie 2). Blocked shots: KCK none, Fort Scott 1 (Sharp).