LA CYGNE — Iola High School’s girls basketball team was locked in a tight battle with Prairie View for much of Thursday night but fell away late against the Buffalos 39-27.
Iola was without two of its starters, Jenna Curry and Josie Plumlee.
The Mustangs started slowly and turned the ball over early, giving Prairie View extra possessions. The Buffalos started the game on a 5-0 run and were able to move the ball well against a Mustang defense that has been solid so far this season. Iola got on the board with 5:45 to go in the first quarter, when Maci Miller scored on a layup.
Until Miller’s score, Iola couldn’t get the shots to fall. A Chloe Sell jumper at the 5:00 mark pulled Iola within a point. While Iola didn’t take the lead in the opening quarter, the girls kept it close from there.
Prairie View tried to race away with a big lead toward the end of the half, going on a small run, outscoring Iola 7-4. Prairie View’s run could have been bigger, if not for a flurry of turnovers that Iola was unable to capitalize on. At the half, Prairie View led 20-17.Iola came out early in the third quarter and cut the Buffalos’ lead to two points after Aysha Houk got to the free-throw line and was perfect from the line. After keeping the game within striking distance. The Mustangs finally took the lead with 2:20 to go when Miller hit a mid-range jumper to put the Mustangs up 23-22. The Iola defense clamped down on the Buffalos, limiting their chances for shots. The girls also kept their turnovers at a minimum to limit Prairie View’s extra possessions.
Going to the fourth, the game was tied at 24, setting up a riveting finish.
Prairie View took a 27-24 lead early in the quarter. From there, the Buffalo defense held the Mustangs scoreless for the first 5:00 of the quarter, while their offense went on a 8-0 run. That run would prove to be enough. Prairie View held Iola to three points in the fourth while racing away with the win, dropping Iola to 1-5 before the Christmas break. The Mustangs are off until Jan. 4 when they play St. Mary’s-Colgan.
“We played three really good quarters,” said IHS head coach Kelsey Johnson. “We got timid and got fatigued because we were behind. It was tough not having two of my starters tonight.”
Iola’s junior varsity lost 34-24. Karringten Hall and Alana Mader each scored six points. Keira Fawson scored three. Jackie Fager, Kyndal Bycroft, Elza Clift, and Curry each scored two. Kaysin Crusinbery scored one.
Iola (9-8-7-3—27) (FG/3pt): Houk 1/1-1-5-4 R.Curry 2-4-2-8 Miller 2-3-4-7 Sell 3-0-0-6 Fager 1-0-3-2 Totals: 9/1-18-14-27
Prairie View (13-7-4-15—39) (FG/3pt): Kirkpatrick 3/1-0-1-7 Baker 3-2-2-8 Paisley 3-3-1-9 Stroup 1-2-3-4 B. Stainbrook 0-3-1-3 Gregg 2/1-1-1-6 Chambers 1-0-4-2 Totals: 12/2-11-13-39
