YATES CENTER — Iola High School girls basketball team was part of history, just not in the way the Mustangs would have wanted. Iola lost to Marmaton Valley 50-36 as Marmaton Valley coach Becky Carlson celebrated her 500th win, defeating the team she coached to a state title in the process.
Marmaton Valley took over early, opening up on 4-0 run thanks to sharp shooting by Kendall Scharff. That lead would swell, as Iola sent Marmaton Valley’s Janae Granere to the line on a frequent basis. Granere carried the Wildcats, scoring 20 points.
Marmaton Valley controlled the game the whole way, taking advantage of mistakes by the Mustangs to charge ahead.
The Wildcat defense held Iola to only three points in the first quarter, all by Chloe Sell as the senior made a jumper and hit 1-2 from the free throw line.
Iola did a good job all game of holding Granere in check, forcing her to beat them from the free throw line, allowing her to only get five buckets in the game.
Even so, Marmaton Valley led 25-13 at the half.
The second half was much of the same. Iola tried to work themselves back into the game, but sloppy play and turnovers held them back. When the Mustangs did get good looks, the shots just weren’t falling.
