ALTAMONT — Playing close games, but not getting the victories, has been a pattern for Iola High’s Fillies in Southeast Kansas League games. It’s their final run through the SEK.
“I could tell our girls just knew they could win this one,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach. “This is a great win for us as the only team in the SEK that has been able to beat Labette.”
The Fillies upended Labette County High’s Grizzlies 36-33. Labette County stood atop the SEK at 6-0 and 15-3 as Iola came into the LCHS gym for the final league game between to two teams.
The Fillies improved to 4-3 in the SEK and 8-11.
Iola overcame an 8-0 deficit on its way to the victory. That eight-point gap was maintained by Labette County in the first half.
The Grizzlies were up 18-10 at halftime.
“This was a team effort. The girls came back out and we were aggressive at both ends of the court,” Carlson said.
“Lisa McFadden had a great game. Labette County focused on taking Kendra (Taiclet) away from us. Lisa found the open areas and hit shots for us inside.”
McFadden led all scorers in the game with 13 points with four rebounds. It was McFadden’s second basket of the third quarter that tied the game at 18-18.
McFadden, Kelsey Larson and Kendra Taiclet scored as Iola’s defense kept the Grizzlies at bay. It was 20-20 at the 3:18 mark of the period.
Labette County’s Tiara Ford hit a three-pointer. Iola turned the ball over and Sadie Atkins put the Grizzlies up by five, 25-20, heading into the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies led 29-22 when McFadden scored for Iola. Lauren Toney drained a three-pointer to pull the Fillies to within two.
“We took them out of what they like to do. We didn’t give up transition baskets and they didn’t get many offensive rebounds, which is a huge part of their game,” Carlson said.
“Our girls were patient offensively in the second half and we got the shots to fall. The more you make Labette County work on defense it frustrates them and they go faster on offense.”
Taiclet, who had 11 points and nine rebounds, scored a basket then hit both ends of a one-and-one to tie the game at 31-31.
