Fort Scott girls rally at Willard

By Scott Nuzum

Herald-Tribune

WILLARD, Mo. -- Krista Goltra's "old-fashioned" three-point play put Fort Scott High School's girls ahead for good Friday night as the Tigers went on to a 51-45 victory over the hosts at the Willard Four State Classic.

Goltra's score put Fort Scott up 46-45 with 1:07 remaining. It was the first lead for the Tigers, 2-0 in the round-robin tournament, since early in the first quarter.

On that play, Willard's 6-3 senior center Shanda Harper fouled out of the game, eliminating at least a part of the Tigers' problems.

Fort Scott trailed 12-3 early in the contest as Willard's height advantage gave the Tigers problems.

Willard's lead was 19-7 midway through the second quarter when Fort Scott guard Afton Gray decided to attack the basket. She scored seven points in the latter part of the period to help bring the Tigers within 23-21 at halftime.

Harper scored the first seven points of the second half but Fort Scott rallied again to get with 30-28 with under three minutes to go.

Willard's lead was 39-34 after three. But Harper was in foul trouble and her absence allowed the Tigers to get back into the game.

Fort Scott tied it twice before Kiley King gave Willard its final lead, 45-43, on a pair of free throws with 1:18 left.

Gray scored 14 points to lead Fort Scott while Joce Allen scored 12 and Krista Goltra added 11. Harper led Willard with 15 points. Megan Jewell added 12.

Fort Scott ended up with a 36-27 rebounding advantage led by Jayci McKenney's eight boards.

The Tigers were scheduled to play Shiloh Christian of Springdale, Ark., Saturday.