RICHMOND Head coach Becky Carlson was at a loss for words when describing her teams struggle to score against Santa Fe Trail on Saturday night.
I dont know. I think weve had good looks at the basket, but havent been able to get it yet, Carlson. I think we are rushing when we feel a little pressure, but when that pressure was off we did a lot better.
The Fillies did not get their first field goal to fall until the final seconds of the third quarter, losing the championship game of the Central Heights tournament 22-31.
We started really sluggish, but kind of woke up after halftime and got going, Carlson said.
It didnt help the Fillies that starter Elysia Kunkler was out with an ankle injury she acquired during Fridays practice. Kunkler had finished as Iolas leading scorer in both tournament games thus far.
Kunklers absence was felt early for the Fillies. Iola shot 4/6 from the free throw line in the first half, being outpaced 8-4 on the scoreboard entering the second half. The Fillies simply could not buy a bucket.
Keeping the Fillies afloat was Hannah Gardner who collected half their points heading into the break. Gardner finished 4/4 from the charity stripe, and Iola trailed 17-8 after a 3-pointer that beat the buzzer from the Chargers.
While the Fillies failed to find their groove offensively, they made up for it on defense despite key defender Becca Spragues foul trouble. The only matchup nightmare for Iola was Santa Fe Trails Courtney Stone. Stone dominated the inside, finishing with a game high 15 points.
Yeah, she is good, but we will do a better job collapsing on her during the year, Carlson said. They are probably one of the top two or three teams in the league.
Ella Taylor scored the first field goal of the game for Iola with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter to send the Fillies into the fourth trailing 26-10.
Despite being down, the Fillies were not out of energy in the fourth. Lauryn Holloway and Gabby Richards provided two quick buckets to start the period to trim the Charger lead. Iola brought the game within single digits in the final minute after two transition buckets set up by Josie Plumlee.
In the end, the late rally was not enough to overcome, as the Fillies fell 22-31.
The Fillies have two more games before a two-week break for the winter holidays. Iola will play Burlington away on Tuesday, and Prairie View on Thursday.
BOX SCORE
Iola (4-4-2-12 22) (pts): Gardner 4, Bycroft 2, Morrison 3, Holloway 4, Taylor 2, Sprague 2, Richards 5.
Santa Fe Trail (8-9-9-5 31) (pts): Mead 7, Stone 15, Jacobs 3, Sisson 6.
