WELLSVILLE — In a back-and-forth contest that was bookended by two not so competitive quarters, Iola’s girls basketball team pulled out a 29-24 victory over Wellsville on the road Friday night.
Despite falling into an early 9-4 hole in the first period of play, the Fillies stormed back in the second quarter behind the scoring performances of senior Toni Macha and junior Sydney Wade.
The duo recorded 11 of Iola’s 13 first-half points, which helped give coach Becky Carlson’s squad a one-point advantage heading into the break.
The third quarter was just as close as the second, which saw three lead changes and one tie. After the half, Wellsville made a quick basket to take back the lead at 14-13.
But in just as quick of a response, Iola regained the advantage with a jumper from Mikaela Platt, who was quiet for much of the first half due to foul trouble.
Platt’s first score of the game wound up sparking the Fillies’ 16-10 run to close out the contest.
From that point onward, Iola never gave up the lead although it did endure two more ties — one later in the third and one early in the fourth.
When the Lady Eagles climbed their way back to make it a 23-23 game in the final period of play, Carlson and the Fillies relied on their two best scorers of the night to bail them out and help secure the win.
Macha scored back-to-back baskets before Wade gave Iola its final field goal of the night to make it 29-23. Wellsville was able to add 1 more point at the free-throw line but couldn’t add to it down the stretch, which left Iola on the winning side by the time the final buzzer sounded.
With the win, the Fillies improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Pioneer League. It was also Iola’s second straight victory.
Macha finished with a team-high 12 points while Wade fell just shy of a double-digit scoring performance with 9 points.
Platt finished with 4 points, all of which came in the second half. Olivia Bannister and Della Lohman rounded out the scoring for Iola with 2 points a piece.
The Fillies will take part in the Burlington midseason tournament next week, which starts Tuesday.
Fillies earn 2nd straight victory
