CHANUTE — A cold third quarter did in Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade A team Thursday evening. COLBI RILEY scored 15 points and Madison Carlin seven to lead the eighth-graders. Katie Bauer scored three. IN THE seventh-grade A team affair, Kendra Sprague scored four to lead the Ponies. Shaylee Sutterby added three, Mia Aronson two and Piper Moore and Charvelle Peterson one apiece.
The Ponies trailed host Royster Middle School by two, 16-14, at halftime, before the Rockets took control with an 18-4 run to win 44-25.
“We came out and really played well, but we left it in the locker room at halftime,” IMS head coach Marty Taylor said.
Meanwhile, Iola’s seventh-grade A team had its struggles early. Royster outscored the Ponies, 15-2, in the first quarter and never looked back in a 27-11 victory.
“We let their press rattle us early, but our effort was good,” Taylor said.
The seventh-graders return to action this morning for the Pony Stampede. Iola takes on the same Rocket squad at 8:30. The winner advances to the championship game at 12:15 p.m. against the winner of the Independence-Pittsburg matchup that follows; the loser falls to the third-place game at 11 a.m.
The A team squads will play at the IMS gymnasium. The B teams will compete at the high school gym.
“I thought Madison had some good minutes tonight, and Katie played hard down low,” Taylor said.
Iola’s eighth-grade B team rolled to a 25-16 win over Royster. Makayla Bycroft scored eight points, Carlin had five and Olivia Taylor and Carly Cescon four each. Addy Prather scored three and Kylee Shaw one.
“Kendra and Shaylee are doing a much better job inside,” Taylor said.
Chanute won the seventh-grade B team contest, 12-4. Savannah Puckett and Peterson each had two points for Iola.
IMS girls head to Chanute
