BURLINGTON — Using a balance attack at both ends of the court, Iola High’s Fillies staked out a 10-point halftime lead on their way to a 49-37 win Friday.
The Fillies kept Rossville High’s Bulldogs winless in winning the Burlington High Invitational consolation contest.
Iola (6-4) plays for fifth place today at 3:10 against Paola, a 54-28 winner against Santa Fe Trail. at Burlington Middle School.
In the championship semifinals Friday, Topeka-Hayden defeated Burlington 52-34 and Sabetha edged Labette County 54-52.
“When you don’t turn the ball over, you get more shot attempts,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach. “We handled the basketball well and got the ball to open people.”
Carlson said Rossville (0-11) played hard but the Fillies had a balance with starters and players coming off the bench.
“The girls coming off the bench did their jobs for us while in there. Lauren (Toney) got a steal, Carly gave us a lift scoring. Lisa McFadden and Kelsey Adams did a good job late,” Carlson said.
After leading 28-18 at intermission, the Fillies outscored the Bulldogs 10-7 in the third quarter. Iola kept Rossville’s Jessica Wehrli quiet until a last-second three in the period.
Wehrli scored 12 of the Bulldogs’ 18 first-half points. She ended with 18 as she hit four three-point field goals.
The Fillies took full advantage of the free-throw line, especially in the first half. They were 11 of 17 in the first two quarters. They finished 14 of 22.
Iola never trailed in the contest. Kendra Taiclet sank four straight free throws to open the game. Rossville kept the game close, tying it three times in the first quarter.
Kelsey Larson hit a three-pointer to push Iola’s lead to 14-11. Iola led 14-13 heading into the second quarter.
It was 19-16 when Iola rattled off seven unanswered points. Carly Mulsow had a basket and two free throws and Toni Taylor hit a three-pointer.
Iola’s lead bounced from 10 to 16 points most of the second half. A basket and two free throws by Kayla Callahan put Iola up 45-29 at the 4:40 mark of the fourth quarter.
Taiclet, who was hampered with two quick fouls in the first quarter, paced the Fillies with 16 points and seven rebounds. Callahan tossed in 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds
McGuffin had nine rebounds and Larson handed out six assists. Taiclet had four assists. Eight players scored for Iola.
Iola was without senior guard Maggie Wilson, sidelined with a foot injury.
Iola (14-14-10-11—49) (FG/3-pt): Larson 1/1-2-3-7, Taiclet 4/1-5-3-16, Toney 0-0-1-0, Taylor 0/1-0-1-3, McFadden 1-0-0-2, Callahan 4-4-4-12, Mulsow 2-2-1-6, McGuffin 1-1-1-3. TOTALS: 13/3-14-14-49.
Rossville (13-5-7-12—37) (FG/3-pt): Matavosky 1-0-0-2, Ma. Wilson 3-2-3-8, Brown 2-0-2-4, Garretson 0-0-2-0, McCullough 1-0-0-2, Wehrli 3/4-0-3-18, Cooper 1-0-1-2, Dankenbring 0-1-0-1. TOTALS: 11/4-3-11-37.
Fillies dispatch the Bulldogs
