Tigers beat SEK leader at home

Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fort Scott senior Alex Barner, seen here in action Friday night versus Chanute, scored a personal-best 33 points in leading the Tigers past Southeast Kansas League leader Parsons, 64-43, at the FSHS gymnasium Tuesday night. The win brought the Tigers within a half game of now co-leaders Parsons and Labette County. (Dusty Drake/Special to the Tribune)

Senior Night couldn't have been more perfect for Fort Scott High's boys Tuesday night. Brandon King and Cory Schenkel joined Jake Clements, Paul Norris and Alex Barner in the starting lineup and helped the Tigers jump out to a 13-3 lead as Fort Scott rolled to a 63-43 Southeast Kansas League victory.

The Tigers knocked off the league leaders at home for the second time this month, with the February 3 win over then-leader Labette County sparking what is now a run of five victories in Fort Scott's last six games.

Labette County defeated Independence in overtime, 48-47, which put the Grizzlies (10-3 SEK, 13-4 overall) into a tie for the lead with Parsons (10-3, 12-5). Fort Scott (10-4, 11-7), which was just a half-game ahead of fifth place when this run started, is now a half-game out of first place.

"If you could have scripted it, I think this would have been close to what we could have drawn up as the ideal night," Fort Scott head coach Jeff DeLaTorre said. "It was Senior Night and we started all the seniors. Sometimes, when you do something like that, you never know what's going to happen. But it was a perfect start. The kids were playing with a lot of energy and excitement. And I think we built on that."

Barner scored 10 of his career-high 33 points in the first quarter as the Tigers rolled to a 22-8 lead. Barner made 14 of 20 field goals and five of seven free throws on the night. He also led with eight rebounds.

Prior to the game, Barner was notified by local franchise owner Mark McCoy that he has been nominated as a McDonald's All-American.

"He has the ability do that," DeLaTorre said. "And I think everybody in this gym knows that and tonight he showed it. It was fitting that he got the award and then to go out and play like he did, you couldn't have made a better script."

Barner's total was the first 30-point night by a Tiger since Austin Boots scored 31 against Pembroke Hill in 2005. Barner's previous career high of 29 was established in the first meeting between these schools, which Parsons won, on Jan. 29.

The Vikings tried to make a game of this one in the second quarter by switching from outside shooting to an inside game. Trey Thomas scored the first eight of Parsons' 11 points in the period -- his only points of the night -- as they creeped to within 27-19 with 3:08 left in the half. A Barner basket and a pair of Griffin Knopp free throws put Fort Scott up 31-19 at the half.

Parsons tried going back outside again in the third, which was just fine with the Tigers since they were gearing up to contain Jeremy Rodie and Gerald Austin, who combined for four three pointers and 24 points in the first meeting.

In this meeting, Rodie and Austin had just three triples -- both of Rodie's came in the first quarter -- and 12 points.

"We had guys on the bench helping out...yelling out to the guys on the court where (Rodie) was at," DeLaTorre said. "That's something we try to encourage and I think we're starting to get that. If we can continue to build on that, good things are still in store for us."

Fort Scott opened the third period with a 10-4 run that pushed the margin to 41-23. Parsons was one of eight from the field in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the period.

Another 9-2 run opened the third period, extending the lead to 56-33, the largest margin of the night.

Gary Floyd added nine points as he came off the bench in this game to make way for one of the other seniors to start. He and Norris each dished four assists. Norris also had four steals.

James Jackson led Parsons with 12 points.

Fort Scott shot 53 percent from the field, making 26 of 49 field-goal attempts. In each of their five wins during this run, the Tigers have shot at least 53 percent from the field. Parsons was held to 14 of 51, going seven of 25 from three-point range.

Fort Scott also outrebounded Parsons, 34-32, as Norris hauled down six boards. The Tigers had 14 turnovers, 13 assists and 10 steals.

The Tigers, who should get a first-round home game in Sub-State, will play their last two regular-season games on the road. The first will be a league game at Iola Friday night.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Fort Scott's JV took a 60-39 win as Gabe Quick scored 18 points and Mikey Karleskint added 10.

FRESHMEN -- Tuesday's freshmen result did not reach the Tribune in time for publication but coach Pechone Stepps sent in his last two results.

Cameron Woodring scored 13 points and Cole Snyder added 12 as the Tigers beat Columbus, 78-30, last Tuesday. Woodring scored 14 while Matt Wright chipped in with 13 in Friday's 61-27 win over Chanute.


PARSONS: Brenn 0-0 0-0 0, Beachner 1-3 0-0 2, Rodie 2-5 0-0 6, Jackson 3-6 3-4 12, Te.Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Austin 1-8 0-1 3, Smith 3-7 1-2 8, Nash 0-1 0-0 0, Dhooghe 0-2 1-1 1, Ta.Johnson 0-10 3-4 3, Thomas 4-9 0-1 8. TOTALS: 14-51 8-13 43.

FORT SCOTT: Hull 0-0 0-0 0, King 1-2 0-0 3, Thorpe 1-1 0-0 3, Karleskint 0-1 0-0 0, Floyd 4-9 0-0 9, Clements 3-5 0-1 7, Knopp 0-1 2-6 2, Harper 0-1 0-0 0, Norris 1-7 0-0 2, Schenkel 1-1 0-0 2, Barner 14-20 5-7 33, Fancher 1-1 0-0 2, Quick 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 26-49 7-14 46.

Parsons.................. 8 11 10 14 -- 43

Fort Scott................ 22 9 16 16 -- 63

Three-point field goals: Parsons 7-25 (Jackson 3-6, Rodie 2-5, Smith 1-2, Austin 1-6, Beachner 0-2, Ta.Johnson 0-5), Fort Scott 4-7 (King 1-1, Thorpe 1-1, Folyd 1-2, Clements 1-2, Barner 0-1).

Total fouls: Parsons 12, Fort Scott 12. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none.

Rebounds: Parsons 32 (Thomas 8), Fort Scott 34 (Barner 8). Assists: Parsons 8 (Rodie, Thomas 2 each), Fort Scott 13 (Floyd, Norris 4 each). Turnovers: Parsons 17, Fort Scott 14. Steals: Parsons 4 (Nash 2), Fort Scott 10 (Norris 4). Blocked shots: Parsons 2 (Ta.Johnson 2), Fort Scott 1 (Norris).