Tigers take lead in SEK

Fort Scott freshman Ashley Cook launches one of four successful 3-point shots during a Southeast Kansas League game against Labette County at the FSHS gymnasium Friday night. Cook finished as scoring co-leader for the Tigers with 13 points in a 60-48 victory that gave Fort Scott possession of first place in the SEK. (Kenny Felt/Exclusive to the Tribune)

Fort Scott High School's girls started the season 0-4. The last team the Tigers lost to during that streak was Labette County at Altamont by 2 points in overtime.

Since then, Fort Scott has won 10 of 11 games. The most recent result during this run was Friday night's 60-48 victory over Labette County at the FSHS gymnasium that pushed the Tigers into the lead of the Southeast Kansas League.

The Tigers (6-1 SEK, 10-5 overall) knocked the Grizzlies (6-2, 8-6) off the top of the ladder just three days after Labette County had toppled then-co-leader Chanute at Altamont.

Maddi Allen scored the game's first 4 points, first taking a pass from Brianne Lawrence in for a back-door layup, then stealing the inbound pass and taking in.

Labette County didn't get shaken by that result and managed to tie the score 11-11 on Michaela O'Brien's layup with 1:38 left in the quarter.

Fort Scott then took control with Katren Rienbolt sparking a 12-2 run that would go well into the second quarter with a jumper with 1:18 left in the first.

It was 29-16 at the half. The third quarter saw 43 total points score but the Tigers put up 24 of those. Freshman Ashley Cook scored 7 of them in 26 seconds, first putting down a 3-point shot from the left side, then converting a rare four-point play to make it 49-32 with 2:46 to go.

Up 53-35 after three, head coach Jeff Armstrong instructed his players to start holding the ball and take only wide-open shots. Burning up to a minute at a time, the Tigers didn't score for roughly 4 1/2 minutes. But as long as they held the ball, the Grizzlies couldn't rally fast enough.

By the time LCHS scored 7 in a row go whittle the lead down to 58-48, only 23 seconds remained in the contest.

Cook and Sidney Maycumber each scored 13 points to lead the Tigers. Cook made 4 of 7 3-point shots and Maycumber hit 6 of 12 field-goal attempts while bringing down a team-high 9 rebounds. Brianne Lawrence added 11 points and 7 boards. She and fellow post player Jillian Lattimer combined to make 6 of 7 shots from the field.

O'Brien led Labette County with 13 points off the bench.

Fort Scott was successful on 52 percent of its field-goal attempts, making 22 of 42 shots. Labette County shot 48 percent on 19 of 40.

The Tigers outrebounded the Grizzlies, 26-23. Fort Scott also handed out 16 assists with Allen credited with 8 herself.

The Tigers have a week off before traveling to Coffeyville for a Southeast Kansas League game Friday night.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Lattimer scored 12 points as but the Tiger JV lost to Labette County, 58-45.

LABETTE COUNTY: Gartner 2-5 0-0 6, R.Stevenson 0-2 0-0 0, Atkins 2-4 0-0 6, Green 4-10 0-0 9, Kimbrough 2-3 2-6 6, O'Brien 5-8 3-6 13, Sorell 2-2 0-0 4, E.Rakestraw 2-6 0-2 4. TOTALS: 19-40 5-14 48.

FORT SCOTT: Tourtillott 0-2 0-0 0, Allen 3-5 0-0 6, Sh.Maycumber 0-0 0-0 0, Rienbolt 3-7 2-5 9, Hasenplaugh 0-0 2-2 2, Cook 4-9 1-1 13, Si.Maycumber 6-12 1-4 13, Lawrence 3-4 5-6 11, Lattimer 3-3 0-0 6. TOTALS: 22-42 11-18 60.

Fort Scott........... 14 15 24 7 -- 60

Three-point field goals: Labette County 5-12 (Gartner 2-4, Atkins 2-4, Green 1-2, R.Stevenson 0-1), Fort Scott 5-10 (Cook 4-7, Rienbolt 1-2, Si.Maycumber 0-1).

Total fouls: Labette County 15, Fort Scott 12. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None

Rebounds: Labette County 23 (Kimbrough 6), Fort Scott 26 (Su.Maycumber 9). Assists: Labette County 12 (Atkins 3), Fort Scott 16 (Allen 8). Turnovers: Labette County 13, Fort Scott 8. Steals: Labette County 2 (Gartner, R.Stevenson), Fort Scott 6 (Allen 2, Rienbolt 2). Blocked shots: Labette County 1 (O'Brien), Fort Scott 2 (Lawrence 2).