'Hound women bounce back

Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Fort Scott's Kamiron Luptak (10) goes up strong over the defense of Southwestern's Julanie Carter (5) during the first quarter of play at Arnold Arena Saturday afternoon as LaStella Slack (21) and Maleika Carter (3) trail the play. Luptak scored 30 points for the Greyhounds in an 87-57 rout. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Adrian, Mo., sophomore guard Kamiron Luptak scored a career-high 30 points Saturday afternoon in leading Fort Scott Community College's women to their largest margin of victory in over seven seasons, an 87-57 blowout of Southwestern (Iowa) at Arnold Arena.

Fort Scott (4-3) last won by a margin as wide when the Greyhounds pasted the Ottawa University junior varsity, 88-57, to start the 2008-09 season. Luptak's 30-point day was the highest-scoring for a 'Hound since Fort Scott High graduate Jolee Sharp scored 34 in a win over Labette on Feb. 1, 2012.

It was a good way to rebound from Wednesday's disappointing start to this five-game home stand, a 62-54 loss to the Saint Mary University junior varsity.

Luptak opened things up for herself and the Greyhounds early on by driving the lane for layups. Once Southwestern (0-3) tried to cover that, Alexis Byrnes found herself open for some 3-point baskets. After that, Alexa Roush came off the bench to hit some shots as the Emporia freshman scored a season-high 13 points.

Luptak finished the day 9 of 14 from the field, making three 3-point shots, and 9 of 12 at the free-throw line. She also had 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

"Attacking the basket early on opened things up for us all around," Fort Scott head coach Katie Reihmann said. "It got her going inside and later got her 3-point shot going, too."

The Greyhounds made 55 percent of their shots from the field, going 30 of 55. They also committed just 10 turnovers while forcing 21. For a team without that much height -- only sophomore Kayleigh Haggard comes in as tall as six feet -- forcing turnovers is as important as getting rebounds. And not turning the ball over keeps the other team from having extra opportunities to score.

"This team does a great job of taking care of the ball," Reihmann says. "They do a good job of handling the ball and it's a great asset for us."

Southwestern was within 12-11 with less than two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. But Fort Scott scored the last 6 points of the period. Freshman Tabor Spurling hit a jumper off a pass from Luptak. Then Byrnes hit her third 3-pointer of the period with 57 seconds left. And Spruling took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast with two seconds to go.

LaStella Slack scored first for Southwestern in the second period but Fort Scott responded by scoring 15 of the next 16 to boost the lead to 34-14 with 4:38 left in the half.

The lead at the main break was 42-24 as the Spartans made just 2 of 11 field-goal attempts in the second quarter. For the day, Southwestern shot just 36 percent from the floor on 19 of 53 and connected on just 4 of 16 3-point attempts.

"They had a lot intensity from the get-go, and energy," Reihmann said of her defense. "That's what got us going."

Fort Scott scored 9 straight during the middle of the third to make it 58-31 with 3:44 remaining. Luptak's 3-pointer to close the run was also the first of four triples the 'Hounds made to close out the period. Haggard, Roush and Little Holtgrave made the others.

Roush made 5 of 6 shots from the field and also finished with 5 rebounds for the 'Hounds.

"Every day has been a step up for her so far," Reihmann said of Roush. "A couple of games ago, we saw glimpses of this. And I think she's working harder and getting better and it's just going to keep going up for her."

The Greyhounds went into the final stanza leading 67-43. Olivia Riefert scored first for the Spartans in the fourth but Luptak's 3-pointer less than a minute later put Fort Scott at 70 points in a game for the third time this season. The 'Hounds have won all three of those games.

The 3-pointer was also the beginning of a 16-2 run that made it 83-47 with 4:49 to go.

Julanie Carter led Southwestern with 16 points while Slack finished with 13.

Southwestern won the rebounding count 36-28 for all the good it did. Riefert had 15 boards for the Spartans.

Fort Scott handed out 17 assists with Holtgrave dishing 4. The 'Hounds also finished with 17 steals, Haggard also coming up with 4.

The Greyhounds will host Division I member Independence (5-1) as part of a doubleheader with the men Wednesday night. Women's tip off is at 5:30 p.m.

Both teams will co-host the Gladbach Classic Friday and Saturday.


SOUTHWESTERN: Alford 0-1 0-2 0, M.Carter 1-8 4-4 6, J.Carter6-13 2-3 16, Wilson 1-3 1-4 3, Bronner 1-2 0-0 2, Schluter 2-4 2-4 8, Riefert 1-5 3-4 5, Stack 5-10 3-4 13, Fountain 2-7 0-0 4. TOTALS: 19-53 15-25 57.

FORT SCOTT: Byrnes 3-9 0-0 9, Luptak 9-14 9-12 30, Roush 5-6 2-2 13, Spurling 4-6 1-2 9, Holtgrave 3-8 2-2 9, Haggard 3-7 0-0 8, Danzer 3-4 2-2 9, Iseman 0-0 0-0 0, Bush 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 30-55 16-20 87.

Southwestern..... 11 13 19 14 -- 57

Fort Scott.............. 19 23 25 20 -- 87

Three-point field goals: Southwestern 4-13 (Schluter 2-4, J.Carter 2-6, M.Carter 0-3), Fort Scott 11-25 (Luptak 3-4, Byrnes 3-8, Haggard 2-4, Roush 1-2, Danzer 1-2, Holtgrave 1-3, Spurling 0-1, Bush 0-1).

Total fouls: Southwestern 16, Fort Scott 23. Fouled out: None. Technical foul: Southwestern bench.

Rebounds: Southwestern 36 (Riefert 15), Fort Scott 28 (Luptak 5, Roush 5, Haggard 5). Assists: Southwestern 6 (M.Carter 2), Fort Scott 17 (Holtgrave 4). Turnovers: Southwestern 21, Fort Scott 10. Steals: Southwestern 1 (Fountain), Fort Scott 14 (Luptak 4, Haggard 4). Blocked shots: Southwestern 1 (Fountain), Fort Scott 1 (Holtgrave).