Iola High’s Fillies left 11 points on the line Thursday night. They lost by seven, 38-31, to visiting Labette County High’s Lady Grizzlies.
The Fillies shot 15 percent, 2 of 13, from the free-throw line. The Lady Grizzlies were 9 of 18 at the line.
“Defensively, we’re playing very well. We continue to struggle from the line and scoring points,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach.
It was the third matchup of the two Southeast Kansas League opponents this season. The Lady Grizzlies lead the SEK, at 9-1 and 11-3, while the Fillies are 2-8 and 4-10.
“Our effort is great. Our girls played with a lot of emotion tonight. Offense creates emotion but even without a lot of offense tonight, the girls had the emotion,” Carlson said.
“Labette’s a quick team and passes we normally make, Labette’s players take away from us. Our defense frustrated them and we pressured them. They rushed their shots.”
Labette County jumped out to a 13-6 lead by the close of the first quarter. Jazmyne Honeycutt’s three at the 6:24 mark of the second quarter put the Fillies on an 8-6 scoring surge.
Kelsey Larson sank two free throws and had a field goal for the Fillies. Honeycutt added a basket as Iola stayed in the game, trailing 19-14 at halftime.
Down 27-18 with just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Iola got back-to-back baskets from Kendra Taiclet and a lot of defense. It remained a five-point game heading into the fourth quarter.
Honeycutt opened the fourth quarter with a basket. Iola got a defensive stop but turned the ball over.
With 4:09 left in the game, Kayla Callahan scored inside for Iola then Honeycutt drained a three. It was 32-29 and Honeycutt stripped the ball away from Lady Grizzlies.
A foul at the offensive end thwarted Iola’s opportunity to get closer than three. The Lady Grizzlies outscored the Fillies 6-2 in the final two minutes of play.
Throughout the contest, Iola came up short at the free-throw line, including several one-and-one opportunities.
Iola was 13 of 43 from the field for 30 percent. Labette County shot 25.5 percent, 14 of 55. The Lady Grizzlies won the rebounding battle, 50 to 35.
Honeycutt fired in 16 points, had nine rebounds and made two steals. Larson had six rebounds and two steals.
Tiara Ford paced the Lady Grizzlies with 19 points. McKenna Britton controlled 11 rebounds.
Tonight, Iola travels to Columbus in league play.
In junior varsity play Thursday, Labette County won 40-30. Lisa McFadden scored nine points for Iola.
Labette County won the freshman game 44-14. Alexa Fawson had eight points and Libby Shay added four for Iola.
Iola (6-8-8-9—31) (FG/3-pt): Faulhaber 0/1-0-1-3, Larson 1-2-3-4, Taiclet 2-0-1-4, Honeycutt 5/2-0-3-16, Callahan 1-0-3-2, Powelson 0-0-1-0, McGuffin 1-0-4-2, Wilson 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 10/3-2-18-31.
Labette County (13-6-8-11—38) (FG/3-pt): Workman 1-0-0-2, Lehmann 3-0-4-6, Smith 0-0-1-0, Rohling 0-0-1-0, Ford 6/1-4-1-19, O’Brien 0-0-1-0, Nally 0-1-1-1, Britton 2-3-5-7, Foister 1-1-1-3. TOTALS:: 13/1-9-15-38.
Fillies’ bid to upend Lady Grizzlies comes up short
