Tiger boys stun Chanute, 51-46

Fort Scott sophomore Kaleb DeLaTorre launches a shot during the first half of play at the FSHS gymnasium Tuesday night. DeLaTorre hit a pair of 3-pointers on his way to leading the Tigers with 19 points in a 51-46 victory over Chanute in Southeast Kansas League play. (Kenny Felt/Special to the Tribune)

Fiction about success in situations such as what Fort Scott High's boys faced Tuesday night would be rejected as implausible.

But with four starters and seven players in all suspended, likely for the remainder of the season, due to "unfortunate circumstances," the Tigers who remained banded together, found their confidence and held on to stun Chanute, 51-46, in Southeast Kansas League play at the FSHS gymnasium.

Sophomore Kaleb DeLaTorre was the only starter remaining. Reserve senior Alex Fink has played starter minutes many times. And junior Jacob Bradbury had come on to be a top sub for the Tigers this season.

The other two starters, junior Wyatt Reehl and sophomore Josh Hudiburg, hadn't played many varsity minutes. And just about everyone else who stepped on the floor was playing in the first varsity game of their lives.

Yet, the Tigers (5-6 SEK, 9-10 overall) led 10-7 after one.

At halftime, they led 21-16.

Then they scored 14 of the first 17 points of the second half -- a run in which they made four 3-pointers -- and led 35-19 with 2:30 left in the third quarter.

And in the last two minutes, after Chanute (6-6, 11-9) had cut the lead down to 6 points, they got big rebounds and made their free throws.

"It's been a tough couple of days for everybody and to see the way those kids came out and played tonight, I'm not sure I've ever been prouder of a group," Fort Scott head coach Jeff DeLaTorre said. "We've had some good kids and good teams roll through here but this performance by those guys was just unbelieveable and I'm just very proud of them."

Aj Smith made 2 of 3 free throws with 34 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 10-7. Caleb Dietsch tied the score for the Blue Comets with a 3-point shot from the top of the key. But Fort Scott scored 9 of the next 12 with Fink's 3-pointer making it 19-13 with 2:41 on the clock.

Though Jordan Richards scored for Chanute with 3 seconds left in the half, the Tigers were pumped up about how they had done.

"The message at halftime was that we've got to come out and get after them in the first part of the third quarter and show them we're here to play the whole game," DeLaTorre said.

Kaleb DeLaTorre took a pass from Fink and swished a 3-pointer to start the half. Trey Ellis converted a 3-point play for Chanute but the Tigers continued to make shots while the Comets fizzled.

Fink scored with 5:39 on the clock. Then Reehl hit back-to-back 3s and Bradbury hit another triple from the top of the key off a Reehl assist to make it 35-19.

Dietsch and Austin Troxel scored for Chanute to end the quarter and Dietsch scored again to start the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 10.

Reehl hit his fourth 3-pointer of the night. But then Chanute held Fort Scott without a field goal for around 4 1/2 minutes while fight back. Aaron Haviland's 3-pointer off a Troxel steal cut the margin to 39-33 with 4:41 to go.

Bradbury found Fink wide open for a layup to make it 45-35 with 2:40 left. Trey Sharp stole a pass and took it to the other end for a dunk for Chanute. Then Ellis scored a layup following a Tiger turnover to get within 6 with 1:44 left.

The Comets might have come back faster but were going for 3-pointers when they could have tried for easier shots. Dietsch finally hit one with 1:26 left to bring his team within 47-42.

Ellis brough Chanute to its closest point, 48-44, with 43 seconds left as he was fouled on a basket. But he wasn't able to hit the free-throw to make it a 3-point play.

Reehl made 1 of 2 charity tosses with 32 seconds left. Hudiburg got the rebound on the missed second shot and eventually, DeLaTorre was fouled and converted both free throws to make it 51-44 with 26 seconds left.

DeLaTorre finished with 17 points while Reehl scored 13 and Fink finished with 10. Hudburg was the leading rebounder with 7. DeLaTorre handed out 5 assists and also had 3 steals as did Fink and Bradbury.

Dietsch led Chanute with 15 points followed by Sharp with 12. Ellis scored 11 and had 12 rebounds.

Fort Scott shot 41 percent from the field, making 13 of 32 field-goal attempts, and 53 percent from 3-point range on 9 of 17. The Tigers also made 16 of 26 free throws.

Chanute shot 38 percent from the field on 19 of 50, made 5 of 20 threes and 3 of 6 free throws as the Tigers committed only 9 fouls.

Fort Scott will look to keep the momentum going when the Tigers wrap up regular-season and SEK play at Pittsburg Thursday.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Fort Scott's JV won 61-38 over Chanute. Drew Martin scored 13 points while Kaleb Ashe added 9.

CHANUTE: Richards 1-4 0-0 2, Dietsch 6-17 1-2 15, Troxel 1-5 0-0 2, Erikson 0-1 1-2 1, Ellis 5-6 1-2 11, Sharp 5-14 0-0 12, Haviland 1-3 0-0 3. TOTALS: 19-50 3-6 46.

FORT SCOTT: DeLaTorre 3-8 9-12 17, Smith 0-1 2-3 2, Hudiburg 1-1 0-3 2, Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Bradbury 1-4 3-4 6, Fink 4-9 0-0 10, Ashe 0-1 1-2 1, Goldston 0-0 0-0 0, Reehl 4-7 1-2 13, Cook 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13-32 16-26 51.

Fort Scott.............. 10 11 14 16 -- 51

Three-point field goals: Chanute 5-20 (Dietsch 2-7, Sharp 2-7, Haviland 1-3, Richards 0-1, Troxel 0-2), Fort Scott 9-17 (Reehl 4-6, Fink 2-2, DeLaTorre 2-6, Bradbury 1-2, Smith 0-1).

Total fouls: Chanute 19, Fort Scott 9. Fouled out: Troxel, Haviland.

Rebounds: Chanute 36 (Ellis 12), Fort Scott 35 (Hudiburg 7). Assists: Chanute 7 (Dietsch 3), Fort Scott 10 (DeLaTorre 5). Turnovers: Chanute 16, Fort Scott 12. Steals: Chanute 8 (Richards 3), Fort Scott 11 (DeLaTorre 3, Bradbury 3, Fink 3). Blocked shots: Chanute 1 (Ellis), Fort Scott 1 (Hudiburg).