OSAWATOMIE Iola girls basketball started off 2019 strong, grabbing their second road conference win this season 52-43 versus a tough and tenacious Osawatomie team.
The win moves the Fillies to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Pioneer League play.
Iola started the game scoreless through the first four minutes until a three from sophomore Claudia Castellanos-Rodrigo jump-started the Fillies.
We were just a little stagnant after the break, Fillies Coach Becky Carlson said. (Osawatomie) was also pretty aggressive on defense and the refs were letting us play, especially in the first half so we couldnt get to the rim as much as I wouldve liked, but we did a good job just sticking with it.
Luckily for Iola, Rodrigos three just tied the game as the defense was hard at work keeping Osawatomie from pulling away early while the Fillies found their rhythm offensively.
That rhythm kicked in to start the second quarter as the Fillies, led by Rodrigo, took the lead and more, pushing ahead of the Lady Trojans by as much as five by the time halftime rolled around.
Rodrigo ended the night with 14 points and was active all over the floor, from behind the arc to doing what she does best, slashing into the lane and either scoring or getting fouled.
Claudia really took control of the game, Carlson said. You know, shes pretty satisfied to distrute the basketball but when we need the points she came through.
The Fillies continued to stretch their lead after halftime and even pushed it to double-digits with 3:05 to play thanks in part to their stellar defensive effort which held Osawatomie to single-digit quarters in the second and third quarter including allowing just six points throughout the entire third quarter.
Carlson said its that defensive intensity thats run rampant throughout the last two weeks of practice over winter break.
Theyve been real intense, Carlson said. And it showed tonight. We got all over them defensively. We want to be that team that makes it hard to score.
That intensity did let up early in the fourth quarter with the Lady Trojans cutting the Fillies lead down to four but the final couple minutes were all Iola. Their defense tightened up and multiple Fillies made their way to the free throw line to close out the game.
In addition to Rodrigo, senior Ellie Carson kept her season-long, double-digit scoring streak alive with 11 followed by seven for junior Kelsey Morrison, six for senior Madisyn Holloway and Piper Moore, three for sophomore Lauryn Holloway and two for senior Kassy Shelby.
The Fillies will have a week off in preparation to host Wellsville next Friday.
