CHANUTE — Fresh off a second-place finish at a weekend tournament, Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade girls rebounded with another victory Monday night. IN BURLINGTON, an offensive dry spell in the second and third quarters in Saturday’s tournament championship put the IMS eighth-grade girls in a hole. THE seventh-graders lost their opener, 23-15 to Chanute, but rebounded to win the third-place game, 31-15 over Eureka.
The Ponies turned a three-point lead, 4-1, into a 12-3 halftime advantage against host Royster Middle School.
The Rockets crept back to within two points, 15-13, after three quarters but Iola held on to win 20-18.
“It was not our best effort, but when we needed a play or a stop, we got it,” IMS head coach Marty Taylor said.
Toni Macha led the way with eight points and five rebounds. Riley Murry followed with four points and four rebounds. Lexi Heslop added four points and six boards. Sydney Wade had two points and two rebounds. Taylor Scout scored two points.
The Iola seventh-graders stayed close to Royster but fell short, 24-18.
“A pretty good effort from the girls,” Taylor said. “We made some mistakes in our man defense that hurt.”
Chanute led 6-3 after one quarter, 10-7 at halftime and 14-9 after three quarters.
Colbi Riley scored five points, followed by Scout Rush and Karly McGuffin with four points each, Katie Bauer with three and Eliza Hale with two for the Ponies.
Chanute also won the B-team contest 15-2. Makayla Bycroft scored Iola’s points.
The Ponies responded down the stretch, but could not come back to win. The 23-18 loss to host Burlington in Burlington’s tournament gave Iola second place.
The championship game got very physical,” Ponies head coach Marty Taylor said. “We didn’t adjust very well early, but the girls played hard and never quit, and put themselves in a position to win.”
Macha led the eighth-graders with eight points and four rebounds in the championship game. She was followed by Murry with six points and four rebounds. Wade added two points and two rebounds, and Heslop had two points and four boards.
Iola led 8-5 before Burlington went on a 12-2 run that spanned the second and third quarters to lead 17-10.
The eighth-graders also defeated Royster Middle School of Chanute 27-15 in the opening round.
Iola led 7-2 over Royster after one quarter. The lead was at 14-9 at halftime and 23-13 after three quarters.
Macha and Heslop scored seven points apiece to lead Iola. Heslop also had nine rebounds; Macha four. Murry added six points and three rebounds. Stout had five points and three boards. Wade had two points, two rebounds and six assists.
“The girls came out and played one of their better halves against Chanute,” Taylor said. “We just didn’t put two halves together.”
Iola led 6-2 after one quarter and 12-6 at halftime. Their lead was at 13-10 before Royster closed the game with a 9-2 run to take the win.
Colbi Riley led the Ponies with eight points. Scout Rush followed with three points. Eliza Hale and Karly McGuffin scored two points apiece.
“The girls did a good job of coming and playing hard against Eureka.”
Iola turned an 11-10 halftime deficit around by outscoring Eureka 8-1 in the third quarter and 12-4 down the stretch.
Riley scored 21 points, followed by Hale with eight and McGuffin with two.
Ponies split pair against Royster
