Fillies fall at Burlington

BURLINGTON — Iola High’s Fillies opened and closed Friday’s match fighting tooth-and-nail.

The problem was everything in the middle.

Friday’s tune was all too familiar for Iola fans as host Burlington High turned a one-point lead to a 12-point cushion in a matter of three minutes. The Wildcats then scored the first five points of the second half to take full control of what became a 52-36 victory.

“I don’t know if we relax, or check out or what, but our second and third quarters have killed us,” head coach Kelsey Johnson said.

Iola’s Becca Sprague connected on a nifty inbound play to turn a 16-13 deficit into a one-point margin at the 3:18 mark of the second quarter.

But Burlington’s Karlie Whitworth ended the half on a tear, converting two straight field goals while being fouled as part of an 11-0 run to end the half. Whitworth scored nine points at the 4 ½ minute stretch to key the run.

The spread ballooned to as much as 23 in the second half before Iola mounted its fourth quarter charge.

Hannah Gardner scored seven points on a pair of 3-pointers and a free throw. 

And, as they’ve done in previous games, the Fillies struggled with turnovers and getting open looks to fall. On multiple occasions, shots looked true, only to bounce off the rim.

“I know the girls are frustrated shots aren’t falling,” Johnson said. “We need to work on finishing through contact.”

Josie Plumlee gave the Fillies a spark off the bench, scoring a team-high 10 points. Madisyn Holloway added nine, while Sprague wound up with six while battling foul trouble.

Not denting the scoreboard, but impressing Johnson and the Fillies faithful was reserve junior Sage Barney, who entered the game in the second half and immediately gave the team a shot of adrenaline with her no-holds-barred intensity, particularly when scrapping against taller girls for rebounds and loose balls.

“She’s just a ball of energy,” Johnson said. “She’ll go as hard as she can for as long as she can, whether it’s for 30 seconds or 12 minutes.”

Burlington’s Harley Young was on target from 3-point range, drilling five treys for a game-high 19 points. 

Iola will embark on its third straight lengthy road trip on Tuesday when the Fillies visit Prairie View.

Iola (9-6-7-13—36) (FG/3pt) Gardner 0/2-1-3-7, Barney 0-0-1-0, Plumlee 1/2-2-4-10, Shelby 1-0-0-2, Holloway 3-3-2-9, Miller 0-0-1-0, Schinstock 1-0-0-2, Sprague 2-2-4-6. TOTALS: 8/4-8-15-36.

Burlington (8-18-15-10—52) (FG/3pt): Dittrich 1-0-2-2, Whitworth 6-2-2-14, Means 1-0-1-2, Hernandez 0-2-4-2, Doebele 3-7-2-13, Young 2/5-0-1-19. TOTALS: 13/5-11-12-52.