Iola High School girls basketball team took on Osawatomie. The Mustangs looked strong and led for some time but fell to the Trojans 50-46.
Iola came out of the gate intensely and very physically, going on a 4-0 run early to pull out to the lead. Josie Plumlee was key, with eight points in the first half.
Maci Miller drained a 3-pointer early in the second quarter to give Iola a 12-7 lead, but that advantage evaporated towards the end of the half as Osawatomie went on a 12-6 run to lead 19-18 at the half.
Iola came out of the break hungry for the ball, causing turnovers and playing hard defense to get the Mustangs a 23-19 lead with five minutes left in the quarter. Iola took advantage of open shots and continued to play a physical game into the fourth quarter.
Aysha Houk, who had suffered from a bloody nose in the first half, hit an open trey to put Iola up 32-29.
That is when it all changed.
The score was 46-41 in Iola’s favor when Osawatomie closed the game on a 9-0 run, hitting 5 of 6 from the free throw line to steal a victory.
Iola played hard, and rebounded the ball well, but late fouls turned into points and cost the Mustangs their second win of the year.
“It’s tough when we are up seven and then make silly mistakes,” said Iola head coach Kelsey Johnson. “It comes with experience, learning how to finish a game.”
Iola (6-12-10-18—46) (FG/3pt) Plumlee 4-0-5-8 Boyd 3/1-0-0-7 Houk 3/2-1-2-9 Sell 1-0-2-2 Miller 5-4-2-14 Reese Curry 3-0-4-6 Totals: 16/3-5-16-46
Osawatomie (3-16-9-22—50) (FG/3pt) Shippy 3-2-3-8 Haefle 1-0-1-2 Dempsey 3/1-3-0-13 Johnson 6/5-2-4-19 Hall 2/1-0-4-5 McClendon 0-1-1-1 Upshaw 0-2-4-2 totals: 16/8-10-19-50
Iola’s JV team won 40-16. Elza Clift had 10 points. Reese Curry had eight points. Kaysin Crusinbery had seven. Keira Fawson and Karingten Hall had four. Baylin Crooks had three. Jenna Fager and Aana Mader had two.
The Mustangs play again next Friday at Wellsville.
