RICHMOND — Iola High’s Fillies don’t have the most prolific offense around.
They’re prone to the occasional dry spell, have been known to turn it over against pressure defenses, and occasionally leave head coach Becky Carlson scratching her head.
But boy, can those girls play some defense.
Iola took control of a hard-fought game in the second and third quarters, courtesy of their defense, to topple host Central Heights 41-33.
The win, Iola’s fourth in a row, keeps the Fillies perfect in Pioneer League play at 6-0, and moves Iola to 9-6 overall.
“We’re 6-0 at this point,” Carlson said. “I’m happy. As the only undefeated team in the league, we knew they’d come at us hard, and they did.”
A 3-pointer by freshman Sydney Wade put Iola on top 12-11 early in the second quarter before Addie Haar took over in the paint. Haar scored Iola’s next 10 points, including a key 3-point play with 5:49 left in the third after Central Heights had climbed to within two, 19-17.
Haar’s assist led to a Jo Lohman bucket to push Iola on top 24-17. A steal led to Emery Driskel’s layup 13 seconds later, and suddenly the lead was nine.
Haar scored twice in the fourth quarter, including a field goal that pushed Iola’s lead to 36-22.
The Fillies wobbled a bit down the stretch as Central Heights deployed its press. But the Vikings missed five straight free throws in the waning seconds that might have made things a bit more interesting. The Vikings were a cool 8 of 23 from the line.
Haar wound up hitting 7 of 8 field goals for a game-high 18 points. Wade followed with 11. Driskel and Wade had six and five rebounds, respectively. Driskel, Lexie Long and Emma Piazza all had two steals.
“Addie did a great job,” Carlson said. “She really took it to ’em.”
Carlson noted the Fillies received contributions up and down the roster, as has become the norm.
“Our players did a good job of finding Addie underneath, and our defense was very good,” Carlson said. “Ashlie Shields got in there and made some things happen.”
Sydney Meyer’s 13 paced the Vikings.
Iola won the junior varsity contest, 26-21. Shields led the way with nine points, followed by Taelyn Sutterby with six. Wade, McKayli Cleaver, Olivia Bannister, Della Lohman and Toni Macha had two apiece. Taylor Sell scored one.
The Fillies return to action Monday at home against Fort Scott in a game postponed from earlier this season because of snow.
Iola (9-10-11-11—41)
Central Heights (9-4-8-12—33)
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Wade 1/2-3-4-11, Long 0-0-1-0, Piazza 1-0-3-2, Lohman 1-0-0-2, Shields 0-0-2-0, Endicott 0-0-2-0, Haar 7-4-2-18, Platt 0-0-4-0, Driskel 1-2-3-4, Macha 2-0-1-4. TOTALS: 13/2-9-22.
Central Heights (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Erhart 0/1-3-4-6, Kraus 0-2-3-2, Schaefer 1-0-0-2, Markley 2/1-1-4-8, Mayer 4/1-2-4-13, Hayward 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 8/3-8-18-33.
Fillies defense rules in win over Vikings
