On most game days, the freshman teams will have an hour in between final bell and tipoff.
Schools squeeze their contests into cramped middle school gymnasiums and cumbersome time slots so that the varsity squads can shine in the prime time spotlight.
But on Monday night, Iola High’s ninth-graders took center stage in the program’s annual freshman tournament.
The multi-day event kicked off with the host Fillies facing off against the visiting Chanute Blue Comets.
Iola started the defensive battle on the right track, taking a 5-4 lead into the second quarter. But Chanute shut out coach Chris Weide’s squad in the half’s final eight minutes, grabbed the lead and never looked back.
The Fillies lost, 23-17.
Madisyn Holloway led Iola’s offense with 11 points off five field goals — including the team’s only three-pointer.
Kendra Sprague scored 4 points and Piper Moore scored 2.
Following the defensive battle in the girls game, the Mustangs took the court against the Blue Comets in one of their highest scoring contests of the year.
However, like the Fillies, the Mustangs came up just short and lost, 61-51.
After its two matchups on Monday night, Iola wrapped up its portion of the tournament for now until it takes the floor again next week.
The visiting schools closed out the opening night in Iola with a pair of games — one on the boys side and one on the girls.
On the boys side, Fort Scott defeated Frontenac, 32-28.
On the girls side, Fort Scott defeated Prairie View, 68-10.
Iola’s freshman teams take center stage at tournament
