WELLSVILLE — Iola High’s girls had plenty going for them Monday.
Three Fillies players reached double figures in scoring, but in the end, it was Wellsville’s Aaliyah Green who shined brightest.
The Eagles’ Green poured in 21 points, including several clutch free throws down the stretch, as the Eagles held on for a 40-33 victory.
It was Green who hit 5 of 6 free throws in the game’s crucial moments, after Iola’s Josie Plumlee converted a steal and layup to pull Iola to within 42-40 with about 3 minutes left. Green did most of her damage after halftime, scoring 16 of her 21 in the third and fourth periods.
“She was taking it hard to the rim,” Iola head coach Kelsey Johnson said.
The loss spoiled one of Iola’s better performances of the season.
Plumlee was hot early, scoring six straight — all from the line — to open the second quarter as Iola forged ahead 16-9. Reese Curry and Maci Miller followed suit, each hitting a pair of free throws to maintain a seven-point lead late in the second quarter.
But Iola’s offense stalled after Plumlee went to the bench with her second foul late in the half.
Wellsville closed to within 20-19 at halftime, and scored six straight to take a 25-20 lead to open the third period.
“We’re a better defensive team than we showed tonight,” Johnson said.
Miller responded with five straight points for Iola to knot the score at 25-25, but a pair of Green charities and a Bethany Pearson trey re-established a 30-25 Wellsville lead.
Plumlee followed a 3-pointer for the Mustangs, and Curry’s bucket tied the score back up at 30-30.
But Wellsville’s Loren Turner connected from downtown to give the Eagles the lead for good.
Wellsville led 37-32 at the end of the third. Pearson scored midway through the fourth to push the Eagles in front by seven.
Miller’s 3-point play, followed by Plumlee’s layup sliced the margin to two, 42-40, setting the stage for Green’s late wizardry.
Plumlee led Iola with 19 points, and Miller had 14. But both players fouled out down the stretch as Wellsville made itself at home from the line. Curry wound up with 10.
