PARSONS — Iola coach Becky Carlson wasn’t frustrated or dissappointed with her team after Saturday’s 44-39 loss to Burlington in the sub-state championship. Rather, she was just left wondering what could have been.
“We had it,” Carlson said. “We really got going in that first half.”
The Fillies built a 16-11 lead after back-to-back jumpers by junior guard Colbi Riley.
With Riley heating up, four of the five Fillies starters had scored and Iola seniors Toni Macha and Sydney Wade each had five points and were setting their teammates up for baskets.
After Burlington’s Asha Roney hit a pair of free throws to get within three points, disaster struck for the Fillies.
Wade picked up her third foul and was forced to go to the bench where she joined Macha and fellow senior Della Lohman, who each had two fouls.
The Fillies have hardly played any meaningful minutes this season without Wade on the floor, let alone without three of their four senior captains.
“Foul trouble really took the momentum away from us,” Carlson said.
Burlington sophomore Kirsten Young hit a three to tie the game at 16-16, but Riley and sophomore Madisyn Holloway each hit a pair of foul shots to allow the Fillies to keep pace.
Burlington was able to get its offense going by pressing the Fillies’ younger guards with Wade sidelined and closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 24-20 lead into halftime.
After Iola’s Riley Murry scored to get her team back within 26-23, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to take a 34-23 lead as the third quarter wound down and it appeared as though Iola’s state dreams were dashed.
The Fillies weren’t ready to quit though and answered right back with a 8-0 run of their own with four points from each Holloway and Macha.
Fouls derail Fillies’ state hopes
