Boys fight back to beat top seed; face Louisburg tonight

SPRING HILL -- Seconds into the fourth quarter here Thursday night, Fort Scott High's boys trailed top-seeded Class 4A-Division I Sub-State Tournament host Spring Hill by 8 points.

About 6 1/2 minutes later, the Tigers held an 8-point lead during a furious fourth quarter in which the teams combined for 54 points -- Fort Scott scored 32 after posting just 24 in the first three -- and held on to upset the Broncos, 56-52, breaking a five-game losing streak in the process.

In the other semifinal, No. 3 seed Louisburg bounced second-seeded Paola, 54-44, after outscoring the Panthers in the fourth 22-10.

The results set up tonight's 7:30 p.m. Sub-State championship game between the Tigers (6-15) and Panthers (9-12) at Spring Hill, one of four Sub-State finals that feature two teams with losing records (See scores and schedules from all Class 4A-Division I Sub-States in the third column below the box score).

Scoring was at a premium for both teams in the first three quarters. Alec Michaud scored off the opening tip for Fort Scott to give it what turned out to be its one and only lead in the first half.

The Broncos (11-10) scored 10 of the next 12 points. Jesse Jones made two free throws for the Tigers with 50 seconds to go to bring them back within 10-6 at the first break.

Spring Hill threatened to pull away early in the second, going up 18-10 after Keenan Powell nailed one of his five 3-point shots. But Michaud and Ryan Thomas hit back-to-back 3's as the Tigers rallied. Jordan Hall stuck back a teammate's miss to end the half with the Tigers down by just one, 19-18.

Jessie Lawrence scored the first basket of the second half to give the Tigers another brief lead. A free throw by Brennen Feeback and a 3-pointer from Bryce Towels to reclaim the lead.

C.J. Horton brought the Tigers within one with 1:32 to go. But Powell hit another triple and Feeback scored at the buzzer to put the Broncos up 30-24.

Jordan Hoston scored to start the fourth quarter for the Broncos to make it an 8-point margin, matching their biggest lead of the night.

The Tigers' rally began when Grant Goldston went on a personal 7-2 run. He scored a layup, hit a 3-pointer and then made two free throws, which themselves began a 9-0 Tiger run. Lawrence took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for a layup, then converted a 3-point play with Horton following with a another basket to make it 38-34 with 5:50 remaining.

The Tigers never trailed again. Goldston and Michaud scored back-to-back to increase Fort Scott's margin to 8 points, 49-41, with 1:37 to go.

The Broncos made a couple of three-point shots and converted a 3-point play to get within 53-50 with about 25 seconds remaining. Hoston made a layup in the final 15 seconds to cut the deficit to 54-52. But Michaud made two free throws with 7.2 seconds left to seal the win.

Jones led the Tigers with 13 points followed by Goldston and Michaud each with 11. The Tigers made 13 of 16 free throws, going 11 of 14 at the charity stripe in the fourth.

Powell led Spring Hill with 17 points followed by Hoston with 11. The Broncos made just 7 of 14 free-throw attempts. They connected on nine 3-pointers.

NOTES -- Also playing for State berths tonight are Pittsburg (Class 5A), Labette County and Coffeyville (4A-I, against each other), and Parsons (4A-II)....

(4) FORT SCOTT: J.Lawrence 3 2-5 8, Jones 4 5-5 13, Michaud 4 2-2 11, Thomas 1 0-0 3, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Horton 2 2-2 6, N.Lawrence 0 0-0 0, G.Goldston 4 2-2 11, Hall 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 20 13-16 56.

(1) SPRING HILL: Towels 2 1-1 6, Weber 1 0-0 3, Ewing 0 0-2 0, Hodge 2 2-3 8, Powell 6 0-0 17, Hoston 4 3-6 11, Feeback 2 1-2 5, LaPlante 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 18 7-14 52.

Spring Hill.... 10 9 11 22 -- 52

Three-point field goals: Fort Scott 3 (Michaud, Thomas, G.Goldston), Spring Hill 9 (Powell 5, Hodge 2, Towels, Weber).

Total fouls: Fort Scott 12, Spring Hill 14. Fouled out: None.