Perhaps it was natural for an emotional letdown after Iola High’s girls clinched the Pioneer League championship two nights earlier.
Or maybe it was because the Fillies were without the services of junior Emma Piazza, frequently described by head coach Becky Carlson as Iola’s best defender.
For whatever reason, the Fillies struggled on offense for extended periods Thursday against Wellsville, a team Iola defeated six days earlier by 24.
It’s a good thing the Fillies are so good at defense, eh?
While points were at a premium, Iola’s defense thwarted Wellsville, particularly early and late in a 42-33 win.
The victory puts the finishing touches on a 12-8 regular season and a 9-1 Pioneer League record for Iola.
Now, the Fillies can focus solely on the postseason. The Class 4A-II Substate Tournament begins Thursday at Anderson County High School, where the Fillies take on Prairie View at 6 p.m. A win there puts Iola in the substate title game, with a berth on the line to compete at the 4A-II state tournament a week later.
That Iola can dream of such accomplishments is a testament to the team’s grit and effort, Carlson said.
Remember, the Fillies are coming off a 1-19 season.
“Physically, we were fine, but mentally, it looked like we just weren’t into it at times,” Carlson said. “Still, it’s nice to win a game like that when we’re not at our best.”
A trio of reserves served up the biggest sparks, in freshmen Sydney Wade and Toni Macha and sophomore Ashley Shields.
Wade had just five points, and Shields four, but both were able to flummox Wellsville players when the Eagles had the ball.
Macha, meanwhile, had key plays in each to wind up with four points.
They helped hold the fort until Iola’s starters Mikaela Platt, Addie Haar and Emery Driskel took over down the stretch.
Driskel’s 3-point play with 6:21 remaining turned a 27-25 lead into a five-point Fillies advantage. Haar’s jumper less than a minute later pushed the lead to seven.
Wade’s steal led to a Platt layup with 3:29 left to give the Fillies a 34-27 lead. Wade then assisted on a Macha jumper at the 2-minute mark, before scoring on a layup after Iola broke past Wellsville’s press. Platt’s layup with just under a minute remaining pushed the lead to double digits, cinching the win.
