Fort Scott boys beat hosts with ease
WILLARD, Mo. -- Fort Scott High's boys have set themselves up to win the championship of the 20th Annual Willard Tri-State Classic as a result of defeating the host school, 51-36, here Friday night.
The Tigers were 2-0 in the tournament -- and for the season -- going into Saturday evening's contest with Greenwood (Ark.).
Friday's game was tied at 12-12 after one period of play. But Ronnie Rust was the only Willard player able to get on track for the hosts on the night. He scored 10 of Willard's points in the period and all five of its second-quarter points.
The Tigers, showing more scoring punch, were able to boost the lead to 20-17 at the half. They then held Rust scoreless in the third period as they increased the margin to 33-21 going into the final stanza.
All doubt of the outcome was removed by the fourth-period performance of Fort Scott junior Alex Barner, who scored half of his personal, varsity-best 24 points in the quarter.
Barner also had six points in the first quarter and made nine field goals on the night. Tony Karleskint followed with nine points while Matt Wheeler had eight.
Rust finished with 22 points for Willard, 1-1 in the tourney and on the season. No other member of the host team -- also known as the Tigers -- had more than five points.
Fort Scott has held each of its first two opponents under 40 points. The Tigers also did that last season when it held Coffeyville to 36 points in the last game of the regular season and Prairie View to 33 in the first round of the Fort Scott Class 4A Sub-State Tournament.
On consecutive nights, the Tigers have beaten one of Arkansas' 2007 Class 3A semifinalists and Missouri's 2007 Class 4 third-place finisher. However, Friday's victim, Shiloh Christian, had five of its top eight players missing because they were playing for the football team in the Arkansas Class 2A semifinals.
Willard girls 68, Fort Scott 50.
Fort Scott fell to 0-2 in the tournament and overall with a 68-50 loss to Willard in the second round of the Tri-State Classic as 5' 10" senior center Myriah Blair led her team in scoring for the second consecutive night.
Blair scored 22 points for the Tigers, who are now even in the tournament and on the season at 1-1. They were to play Shiloh Christian for the tournament championship Saturday evening.
Blair also had 13 points in Willard's win over Greenwood Thursday. She also had support from her teammates in this contest. Amanda Allen scored 14 points while Kylie King and Jamie Bird each scored 11.
Fort Scott trailed by just two after one period, 19-17, as Joce Allen scored eight points while Kori Page Rienbolt added five and Afton Gray four. Bird had eight in the quarter for Willard.
Willard had a quick burst to open the second period while holding Fort Scott to just six points. It's lead at the break was 38-23.
Blair scored seven points in the third period, matching her second-period total, as Willard outscored Fort Scott 19-6 to make it a 57-29 margin going into the fourth.
Fort Scott had some fight left in it and outscored Willard 21-11 in the fourth.
Willard made seven three-point shots. Blair had four while Allen connected on two.
Allen led the Tigers with 14 points. Rienbolt finished with 13 while Gray scored 12.
The 68 points were the most the Tigers had allowed since Paola took a 71-51 win on Jan. 23, 2007. However, Fort Scott won six of its next seven after that. The 50 points the Tigers scored was the most since beating Chanute 52-38 last February.