Fillies drop 32-31 heartbreaker

Addie Haar was going to be the hero of the night.
In her first game back from an extended injury layoff, the Iola sophomore maneuvered her way past a Central Heights defender and softly banked in a shot from the right side.
Had it counted, the basket would have given Iola a one-point lead with three measly seconds on the clock. Barring a miracle, Iola’s first victory of the season was in the bag.
A nearby referee saw it another way.
Instead of counting the basket, or whistling Central Heights for a potential foul, the official waved off Haar’s score with a traveling call.
The pivotal call marked the Fillies’ last scoring opportunity in a 32-31 loss to the visiting Vikings, keeping Iola winless on the season.
“I won’t say the officials dictated the outcome, but they controlled the game,” Iola coach Becky Carlson said. “They didn’t let us play.”
Despite the loss, the Fillies impressed Carlson with their intensity, particularly in the second half, erasing what had been an early nine-point deficit.
The bench was a big part.
Iola’s reserves scored 12 of the team’s first 13 points — seven alone by Lexie Long — helping the Fillies climb out of an early 10-1 hole.
The lead yo-yoed between one and three points through the second half, until Emery Driskel scored with 3 1/2 minutes left in the game to tie the score at 27-27. Haar’s bucket with 3:03 left gave the Fillies their first (and only) lead of the game.
But Central Heights’ Brianna Erhart 3-pointer with 2:30 remaining to help the Vikings retake the lead. Emma Sigg stepped in for a steal, leading to a Driskel jumper with 55.3 seconds remaining, and a 32-31 deficit.
That led to Haar’s discounted heroics.
“Our bench was outstanding tonight,” Carlson said. “Addie did well, and so did Lexie. Emma came up with some big plays for us, and Emery battled her tail off tonight.
“Our effort was good tonight,” Carlson continued. “We did a nice job of moving the ball, and getting great looks at the basket.”
Driskel led the way with eight points, followed by Long with seven, and Lohman with five.
Sydney Meyer led Central Heights with 14 points.
Iola won the junior varsity contest 22-5, courtesy of a balanced scoring attack in which eight players connected on one or two baskets. Ashlie Shields and Haar shared high-scoring honors with four apiece. Paige Miller and Shelby Reno both scored three, while Cassie Delich, Mikaela Platt, McKayli Cleaver and Taylor Sell all had two points.
Iola travels to Prairie View Tuesday.
Central Heights (12-8-4-8—32)
Iola (5-12-4-10—31)
Central Heights (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Erhart 1/1-2-0-7, Kraus 1-4-2-6, Markley 0-1-1-1, Meyer 6-2-2-14, Hayward 1-2-2-4. TOTALS: 9/1-11-7-32.
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Long 2/1-0-0-7, Moore 2-0-0-4, Piazza 0-0-4-0, Lohman 2-1-3-5, Haar 2-0-2-4, Platt 0-0-1-0, Driskel 4-0-2-8, Sigg 0/1-0-4-3. TOTALS: 12/2-1-16-31.