OSAWATOMIE — The Fillies have come a long way from the squad that started the season in Girard with a lopsided loss or even the team that struggled to generate any offense in the league opener against Burlington.
After Friday’s 57-23 win over an overwhelmed Osawatomie squad on the road, the Fillies have now won three-straight games and have a 3-1 record in the Pioneer League.
“I felt like we were really sharp in the first half,” Iola coach Becky Carlson said. “We took care of the ball, we ran our offense well and did a good job on the boards.”
In Osawatomie, Iola was able to do what a good team is suppose to do. They made sure that the Trojans never felt like they were in the game.
“I am glad we were able to come out on fire and we never let down,” Iola senior Riley Murry said. “We are working really well together and we know what we can all do. It is staring to come together.”
Quickly in the first quarter, Iola roared out to a 19-2 lead with pressure defense from guards Sydney Wade and Chloe Gardner.
Gardner was in the starting lineup with Wade for the first time during the league season as Colbi Riley stepped into the sixth-man role that she was so effective in at the end of last season.
Riley rolled her ankle in last Saturday’s practice so Carlson elected to limit her minutes and give Gardner the start.
“Colbi hasn’t practiced since Tuesday,” Carlson said. “She rolled in Saturday, but I wanted to have her against Anderson County. We have iced it Wednesday and Thursday, so she just played a little bit to get it loosened up.
“Chloe does a really good job, she is so solid.”
Riley made an impact as soon as she got on the court and scored two-straight baskets to push the margin to 19-2.
Iola was able to run the lead up to 23-6 by the end of the first quarter and Wade led the way to that lead with 10 points to go with numerous assists and steals.
The Fillies piled on early in the second quarter with a 10-0 run fueled by unselfish play. Gardner, Wade, Della Lohman, Riley Murry and Riley each had two points during the spurt as the Fillies made sure everyone got involved.
“In order for us to be a great team, we have to have a lot of different girls score,” Carlson said. “They can and they did.”
With the lead up to 33-6, Carlson began liberally rotating her bench into the game and experimenting with different lineup combinations.
