Greyhounds take conference opener

Fort Scott's Jazmin Taylor takes a shot as Kansas City's LaShira Allison (12) and Nadya Tonova defend during the first half of play at Arnold Arena Wednesday night. Taylor finished with 17 points as the Greyhounds won their Jayhawk Conference opener, 53-43. Tribune photo Kenny Felt.

Fort Scott Community College's women looked to be in trouble late in the second half of their Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division opener with Kansas City Kansas at Arnold Arena Wednesday night.

KCK was on a 10-0 run, tying the game at 43-43 with 2:52 remaining on a layup by VaShunta Johnston.

But after a time out, the Greyhounds shut down the Blue Devils and finished the contest with a 10-0 run of their own to take a 53-43 victory.

Jazmin Taylor, Fort Scott's leading scorer on the night with 17 points, sparked the game-ending run with a baseline drive for a layup after the time out. About a minute later, she made the first of two free throws. Amber Bowles rebounded the second one and got the ball to Keisha Walker for a three-point goal with 1:07 left.

The Greyhounds made four free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the win, improving to 9-4 on the season.

Bowles and Brittney English were rebounding machines for the Greyhounds, who dominated the boards, 48-32. Each had nine rebounds in the first half alone. Bowled finished with 15 caroms while English hauled down 14.

Walker added 13 points for Fort Scott while Bowled finished with eight. Johnston was the only Blue Devil in double figures scoring as she scored 15 points while hauling in 11 rebounds.

The Greyhounds held a 15-7 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. KCK whittled it down to 22-20 before Jasmine Hammond made two free throws with 10 seconds left in the half.

Fort Scott built its lead back up early in the second half. Tiffany Coppage's only field goals of the night -- a two-pointer followed by a three -- made it 39-28 with 10:57 remaining.

Taylor's basket with 7:29 to go made it 43-33 just before Kansas City began to rally.

The Greyhounds will go to Chanute Saturday night to take on Neosho County, which lost to Independence, 56-40, Wednesday night to fall to 4-9 on the season. Action begins at 6 p.m.

NOTES -- Fort Scott High School graduate Katrina Colwell was a winner in her first KJCCC game as a head coach. Her Labette Cardinals defeated Cowley, 55-45, to go to 8-4 on the season....

Walker went into the night leading Region VI in scoring with 20.7 points per game. LaQuisha Wharton of Pratt was right behind her at 20.6 ppg. They are the only two players averaging over 20 points a night. Coppage is 11th on the list at 16.0 ppg while Taylor is 19th at 14.5. No one from KCK entered the night in the top 20....