Scoring has become a problem for Iola High’s Fillies.
“There is nothing wrong with our defense. We held a pretty good Fort Scott team in check most of the night. They pulled away late but defensively, we’re alright,” said Becky Carlson, Fillies’ head coach after a 43-29 loss at home Tuesday.
“We need to find some offense. We have to find a way to score points.”
Iola was in front of visiting Fort Scott High’s Tigers 14-8. That was the score with 4:50 left in the first half.
The Fillies trailed 18-14 at halftime. They went over 6:50 minutes with scoring as the Tigers scored 14 unanswered to lead 22-14 at the 6:53 mark of the third quarter.
Lisa McFadden broke the drought for Iola with a basket with 4:48 left in the third period. The Tigers were staying in front and a three-point play by Sidney Maycumber had her team up 27-16 .
Back came the Fillies. Kelsey Larson, hampered with foul trouble again, made a drive to the basket. Kendra Taiclet, who was 9 of 12 at the free-throw line, sank three consecutive tosses.
She hit two more late in the period and another two to open the fourth quarter. Iola had rallied to within three points, 28-25.
But on an inbound play under Fort Scott’s basket, the Fillies left Katren Rienbolt unguarded. The basketball came into Rienbolt and she hit a three-pointer from the corner.
“Our girls have to learn to identify shooters and to find their player to defend. That was a big play.,” Carlson said.
The Fillies never regrouped from it. They were outscored 12-4 from that point on.
Iola shot just 24 percent, 5 of 21, from the field. The Fillies stayed in the game at the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 24. Unfortunately, the Tigers were 14 of 18 at the charity stripe.
“The girls have to practice shooting the ball. They need to step up, shoot the ball and score points,” Carlson said.
Taiclet paced the Fillies with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals. Larson ended up with nine points and seven rebounds. McFadden had four rebounds. Iola turned the ball over 17 times.
Brianne Lawrence was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 14 points. Maycumber had 12 points.
