Fillies beat the Blue Comets in overtime

CHANUTE – Arch-rivals of the Southeast Kansas League cooked up a fan-pleaser for their final league meeting.
Iola High’s Fillies and Chanute High Blue Comets went toe-to-toe for 32 minutes-plus Tuesday night at the CHS gym. It took a four-minute overtime period to settle things – Iola 43, Chanute 37.
The Fillies and Comets went back-and-forth throughout the game. Iola regained the lead, 34-32, on a three-point field goal by Kelsey Adams with 38 seconds left in regulation. Bailey Erikson tied the game for the third and final time by sinking two free throws seven seconds later for Chanute.
Both teams had an opportunity to win the game in regulation. But knotted at 34-all, the two teams forged into overtime.
Iola controlled the extra period, mainly with its defense. Neither team scored until two minutes had elapsed.
Kendra Taiclet put the Fillies in front for good on a basket. Then with 1:38 remaining on the clock, Lisa McFadden deflected an entry pass meant for Chanute’s 6’3″ freshman Macy Flowers. Kelsey Larson corralled the loose basketball for the Fillies.
Taiclet scored with 47.3 seconds left but it wasn’t over yet. Shelbi Trout sank one of two free throws for Chanute to make it a three-point game.
“Composure. Our girls kept their composure even when we were down. We hit free throws in overtime to get the win,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach, following the Fillies’ win.
“Our man-to-man defense was tremendous tonight. We were at a disadvantage when they have the big girl in. I thought we played her pretty well and Lisa figured out to wait for the pass in and was able to get the deflection. That was a big play.”
McFadden also hit two free throws with 24.9 seconds remaining in the overtime. That made the point spread five. Flowers, who finished with 12 points, scored with 11.9 seconds then Chanute sent Larson to the free-throw line for Iola.
Larson knocked down two charities and the Iola defense did the rest.
The Fillies improved to 2-0 in SEK play and 6-8 overall. The Blue Comets dropped to 0-2 and 5-9.
Iola and Chanute are charter members of the SEK, which was established in 1927. Iola moves to the Pioneer League next year.
“This was a solid team effort. We got good minutes from Libby Shay, Hannah Endicott and Katie Thompson. We put Katie in there as a bigger body inside to help with their tall girl and she did a good job on her,” Carlson said. Thompson is 5’9″ and “has long arms.”
The Fillies were off to a strong start, leading 13-6 at the end of the first quarter. But their offense stalled against Chanute’s zone defense and they found themselves in a 13-13 tie with the Comets.
Iola’s lone basket of the second period came with 56 seconds left. Taiclet’s bucket put Iola up 15-13 at halftime.
Chanute brought Flowers in off the bench and took advantage of her near the basket. Flowers led Chanute to a 23-20 advantage by the close of the third quarter.
Iola kept battling to catch up. Larson’s three-pointer with 49 seconds left closed the gap to 32-31. Taiclet forced a tie-up situation and the ball went to Iola.
Adams drained the trey to put Iola up by two, 34-32. Two free throws later by Chanute took the game into overtime.
“Lisa hit a big shot. We need her to look to shoot more for us,” Carlson said. “Our girls all have roles and they are learning to do what we need from them coming off the bench.”
Iola shot 45 percent from the field, 14 of 31, and hit 9 of 13 free throws. Chanute went 7 of 16 at the line.
Taiclet fired in 18 points and cleared six rebounds. Larson had 17 points, five steals and four rebounds. McFadden pulled down four rebounds.
Erikson paced Chanute with 14 points and Flowers had 12.
Iola hosts Parsons (1-0, 9-4) Friday in SEK play.
Chanute won the junior varsity game 30-22. Paige Miller scored six to lead Iola.
The freshman Fillies notched a 35-29 victory over Chanute. Lexie Long led Iola with 10 points and Jo Lohman had seven.
Iola (13-2-5-14-8 (OT)-42) (FG/3-pt): Larson 3/2-5-1-17, Taiclet 6/2-0-0-18, Toney 0-0-3-0, Shay 0-0-1-0, Endicott 0-0-1-0, McFadden 0-4-3-4, Adams 0/1-0-2-3. TOTALS: 9/5-9-11-42.
Chanute (6-7-10-11-3 (OT)-37): Erikson 5-4-1-14, Batten 0-0-1-0, Trout 2-2-4-6, B. Olson 1-0-1-2, Richard 0-0-1-0, Dar. Rubow 1-0-1-2, Flowers 6-0-2-12, Dani Rubow 0-1-0-1. TOTALS: 15-7-11-37.