BURLINGTON —The Fillies were all over the court on Thursday in their 44-38 substate win over Anderson County.
“Could’ve went either way,” Iola coach Becky Carlson said. “I’m sure glad it went our way.”
They split in the regular season with the Bulldogs and entered the match-up as the 3-seed facing the 2-seed, but with a full team and Sydney Wade finally back in the starting lineup — after missing a couple weeks with a high-ankle sprain and being used in a reserve role against Santa Fe Trail in their regular-season finale — the team was confident entering the semifinal game.
“(Wade) is a team-leader,” Ashlie Shields said. “Colbi (Riley) is a really good player, but we always feel safe with Sydney in.”
With 2:19 showing on the fourth quarter clock, Wade showed just how much of a safety-net she can be and the stat-book will make no mention of it.
With the Fillies clinging to a six-point advantage and trying to hold off a potential Bulldog comeback, guard Ashlie Shields picked the pocket of an opposing Bulldog guard.
She quickly came up with the ball and alertly saw Wade streaking down the court for a potential nail-in-the-Bulldog-coffin layup and Shields uncorked a pass. Unfortunately for the senior, she had some adrenaline pumping in what she hoped would not be her final game for Iola and the ball sailed over the head and out-stretched arms of Wade.
Fortunately for Shields, Wade is fast — very fast — and it appears that her ankle is feeling better.
“It is just great to have her back out there,” Carlson said. “It takes pressure off everyone else.”
Wade chased down the loose ball and before stepping on the baseline turned and shoveled the ball to senior Mikaela Platt. Platt was fouled and the potential momentum-shifting turnover was safely avoided.
“That was a huge relief,” Shields said with a laugh. “I did not know what I was doing. I was scared. I just got the steal and I saw Sydney so I threw it.
“And she did what Sydney does and saved the day.”
Platt made one of her two foul shots and the Fillies’ lead grew to three possessions at seven.
Anderson County answered with a basket, but with 1:21 on the clock, Colbi Riley — who saw her role grow as with Wade on the shelf and now is back in a sixth-man role came through with two free throws.
Anderson answered again and turned their press up on the Fillies, but with Shields, Wade, Platt, Toni Macha and Riley on the floor, the Fillies had plenty of ball-handlers and forced the Bulldogs to foul Wade.
“It is really nice knowing that we have girls that can take care of the ball under pressure,” Shields said.
