CHANUTE — The Iola Mustang girls could not keep up with the Chanute Comets during Friday’s 58-42 loss.
The Comets used their numbers to their advantage, subbing out their entire lineup as they utilized a full-court press to wear down the Mustangs until pulling away in the third quarter on a 21-6 run.
“The loss hurts our overall record, but we care about league,” Iola coach Emily Sigg said. “If this makes us better for league, then that’s what we care about. This doesn’t affect us.”
With Chanute focused on halting standout freshman Haidyn Desmarteau, Iola’s other pieces took center stage early as junior guard Brooklyn Holloway and junior forward Zoie Hesse posted 6 points. Although Holloway’s production waned after sinking a pair of 3-pointers, Hesse kept Iola’s momentum rolling with 11 of her team-leading 15 points before heading into halftime behind 28-21.
“I was pretty happy with the first half, but it was stamina and we don’t have the numbers to sub five for five,” Sigg said. “That eventually wears you down. That was rough. When you can sub five and five that’s a bonus.”
Chanute took control in the second half with their press, limiting Iola to a trio of buckets from Desmarteau, Hesse and freshman forward Breileigh Rutherford. Fourth-quarter 3-pointers from Holloway, Desmarteau and Rutherford chipped away at the Comets’ lead but not enough to pull the Mustangs back into contention.
With the loss, Iola’s losing streak extended to four games as their overall record dropped to 4-15. Despite the slide, Iola has the potential to end the regular season on a streak with Prairie View, Anderson County and Wellsville as their final opponents. Iola previously defeated Prairie View in December and Anderson County at last month’s War on 54 Basketball Tournament. In December, they fell to Wellsville in a game contest Coach Sigg believes the Mustangs were more than capable of winning.
“Prairie View, I’m excited for it and we’re better than we were,” Sigg said. “We won the game by a lot but we didn’t play well there. Those are the games that make me nervous but you never know.”
