CARBONDALE — The third time wasn’t the charm the Iola High Fillies needed Thursday night to overcome Santa Fe Trail.
Despite scoring only one field goal in the first and third quarter, the Fillies were within single digits most of the final period, but couldn’t snatch a late lead. The Chargers earned their third win over the Fillies in as many tries, winning 38-32.
“We just have to have more effort through the whole game,” Iola head coach Becky Carlson said.
The only field goal in the first came via a drive-and-finish from junior point guard Hannah Gardner. Santa Fe Trail outscored the Fillies 14-2 in the first. Carlson emphasized the Fillies’ early struggles were self- inflicted.
“It was more of what we were doing,” Carlson said in reference to her team’s first-quarter mishaps. “But they really packed it in. When we drove, they really did a good job collapsing on us.”
Sophomore guard Josie Plumlee served as the spark plug for the Fillies in the second, and the rest of the way. Plumlee started the second off with a 3-point play after driving coast-to-coast to the rim and getting hacked on her way up. Plumlee led the Fillies with 15 points on the night.
“She has a lot of spark, and she really got after it,” Carlson said.
After missing three attempts from the left side of the 3-point line in the first, junior Lauryn Holloway got her right-wing triple to fall, bringing Iola within six with 3:16 left to play in the second. Iola trailed 19-14 at the halftime intermission.
Senior Gabby Lampe scored Iola’s first field goal of the second half with 2:32 left in the third quarter. During the Fillies’ drought, the Chargers regained their double-digit lead, and led 27-17 heading into the fourth.
A Plumlee 3-pointer from the corner followed by two quick baskets brought the Fillies within six with 3:14 left to play. Iola came within four after senior Kelsey Morrison notched a pair of charities, and later within three after a quick steal and score from Plumlee.
Down 35-32, junior Becca Sprague fired from the painted area, but her shot veered off leaving 20 seconds remaining on the game clock. The Chargers stayed steady at the charity stripe down the stretch, holding on for the 38-32 victory.
“We just need to be able to put a whole game together,” Carlson said.
The Fillies finish the regular season with an 8-12 record, and will find out their substate pairing this weekend.
BOX SCORE
Iola (2-12-3-15—32) (pts): Gardner 2, Morrison 4, Holloway 5, Kunkler 2, Sprague 3, Plumlee 15, Lampe 2.
