WELLSVILLE — It was perhaps only fitting that Iola High’s Reese Curry, who had been so dominant at the offensive end, made the final defensive play in the Mustangs’ hard-fought 59-55 win over Wellsville Friday.
Wellsville’s Alana Green, who had scored inside, outside and everywhere in between, was driving to the hoop in the waning seconds, with the hopes that a score and defensive stop would give the Eagles hopes of a win.
But Curry had another thought in mind. She cleanly stuffed the Wellsville guard’s layup attempt, and so much so that Curry was able to keep hold of the ball as she blocked it.
The stunned Green could do little more than watch as Curry and her teammates held possession as the final buzzer sounded.
“She played great on both ends,” Mustang head coach Kelsey Johnson said. “She’s been having a lot more confidence in practice, and she took over for us.”
Not only did Curry lead Iola with 21 points — coming primarily on short jumpers from the lane or along the baseline — but she also helped bring the ball up the court when Iola’s starting point guard, Kyndal Bycroft, fouled out early in the second half.
“I want to be able to play everywhere,” Curry said. “I want to shoot outside and down low. I hope to be an all-around player.”
With games like Friday’s, Curry is proving that hope has already become reality.
IOLA withstood a pair of Wellsville charges to claim the win.
Curry and her fellow post players Keira Fawson and Alana Mader took control in the second quarter, spearheading a 16-5 run to push the Mustangs up, 29-18 late in the half.
But Green and teammate Savannah Viets had an answer. They combined to score 16 of the Eagles’ 19 third-quarter points to pull closer.
Viets’s driving layup late in the third period put Wellsville on top 42-40.
Iola responded in a big way, with a 13-0 run to take the lead for good.
Fawson’s 3-point play on Iola’s next possession, followed by her putback at the third-quarter buzzer pushed Iola ahead, 45-42.
Iola retained possession to start the fourth period, which led to a short jumper from Curry to make it a five-point game. Mader and Curry scored on putbacks on Iola’s next two possessions, and a pair of Elza Clift free throws had Iola ahead, 53-42.
Wellsville still made things interesting in the final 90 seconds.
