BURLINGTON — Iola High’s Fillies have seen leads evaporate in their five-game losing streak. It happened again in the seventh-place game of the 19th Annual Burlington High Invitational.
It was different in Saturday afternoon’s game. The Fillies never trailed in the game. Rossville High’s Bulldogs forged ties at 25-25 and 28-28 but Iola’s defense denied the “dawgs” from getting a lead twice when Rossville had the basketball.
Lauren Toney put the Fillies back on top for good with a jump shot, 30-28, with 5:50 left in the contest. Two minutes later, Kelsey Larson drained her third three of the game, extending Iola’s lead to five.
Iola’s defense gave up just one more point after the Bulldogs tied the game at 28-28. The Fillies posted a 38-29 win.
“We needed this win. We made shots today and played great defense,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach. “We made free throws when it counted.”
When it counted was the final three minutes of the game. The Fillies’ Larson, Kendra Taiclet, Toney and Lisa McFadden stepped to the line, combining to hit 5 of 8 tosses.
The Fillies improved to 4-8 overall. They are off until Friday when they host Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High’s Golden Tornado (3-7) to open Southeast Kansas League play.
Taiclet had to work the whole game against Rossville’s box-and-one defense against her. She scored the first two baskets for the Fillies and a basket by Toney put Iola up 6-2.
Rossville’s Mackenzie Matavosky hit a free throw, then had a basket to pull her team to within one. Larson swiped the basketball from the Bulldogs, scoring on a layup and Iola led 8-5 at the end of the first quarter.
It was a two-point game, 10-8, when Larson drained back-to-back threes from about the same spot for the Fillies. Toney, who ended up with nine points, connected to push Iola’s lead to 10, 18-8.
The Fillies took a 20-12 lead to the locker room at the break. Toney scored the first basket of the second half. McFadden went to the free-throw line at the 5:38 mark, sank the first attempt but missed the second. Right there for a putback was Taiclet and Iola was up 25-15.
Iola’s offense stalled and Rossville made a run. The game was knotted at 25-all going into the fourth quarter.
Rossville turned the ball over on the opening possession. Taiclet’s one-and-one opportunity failed but Larson grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Taiclet. Back to the line Taiclet went and hit one of two free throws.
On the missed second attempt, it was Libby Shay claiming the rebound. McFadden sank two free throws at the 7:11 mark giving Iola a 28-25 lead.
Taylor Kirk nailed a trey to tie the game for the Bulldogs. The Fillies turned the ball over but Taiclet pulled a defensive rebound and Toney scored.
