If Iola High’s girls were looking for a confidence boost, Friday was a good start.
From Keira Fawson’s buzzer-beating skyhook to end the first half, to reserve guard Jenna Morrison drilling a jumper to the delight of the Homecoming crowd packed into the IHS gymnasium, pretty much everything went Iola’s way in a 64-6 romp over visiting Osawatomie.
“Our big focus in practice has been confidence,” Mustang head coach Kelsey Johnson said, from being more aggressive on defense, crisper with passes and willing to shoot, even if shots weren’t falling.
Done, done and done.
Iola dominated from the opening tip, leading 25-2 by the end of the first quarter, and then outscoring Osawatomie 21-0 in the second period.
Perhaps most importantly, between the transition buckets sparked by multiple steals (24 in all), were the smiles that filled the IHS lineup.
The girls were having, dare we say, fun.
“It felt good,” Johnson said. “There are some games where the girls don’t smile at all.”
Fawson got things off on the right foot, drilling Iola’s first three field goals of the night. Her skyhook gave her 14 points by halftime, before her teammates took turns taking over the scoring load.
Elza Clift came off the bench to score 10. Reese Curry and Harper Desmarteau added eight apiece. Jackie Fager notched seven.
Fawson, who later was named Homecoming Queen, also led with eight rebounds. And racked up five steals.
Desmarteau got her hands on six steals. Kyndal Bycroft and Clift added three steals each.
Just as importantly, Iola had only five turnovers.
Iola’s hot shooting cooled off in the third quarter, but only a little. By the time the period ended, Iola was ahead 59-3, allowing Johnson to empty her bench.
“A game like this was huge for us,” Johnson said. “We’ve made strides in many areas. Sometimes with games like this you sit back and get careless with the ball. They didn’t do that at all. We needed this confidence boost to carry us into the season.”
IOLA was nearly as dominant in junior varsity play, winning 52-6. Brooklyn Holloway scored 20 points through three quarters to lead the way, Zoie Hesse and Bethany Miller each scored 10, Dally Curry six and MaHallie Genoble, Ari Ramirez and Stephanie Fees with two apiece.
Iola (2-6) travels to Osawatomie Friday.
Osawatomie (2-0-1-3—6)
FG/3pt FT F TP
Hampson 0 0 2 0
Barnett 0 0 3 0
Brown 0 0 4 0
Mayo 0 0 2 0
Palmer 1 1 0 3
Kierl 0 0 2 0
Powell 0 3 0 3
Totals 1 4 13 6
Iola (25-21-13-5—64)
Bycroft 0 0 1 0
Fager 2/1 0 2 7
Clift 4 2 1 10
Fawson 7 0 1 14
Mader 4 0 0 8
Desmarteau 1/2 0 2 8
Curry 3 2 3 8
Hesse 2 0 1 4
Crusinbery 1 1 0 3
Morrison 1 0 0 2
Totals 25/3 5 11 64
