ANDERSON COUNTY — Iola High’s girls took full advantage of a 13-day layoff, putting a few new wrinkles on defense.
The strategy paid off handsomely Friday, as the Fillies took control early and never looked back in a 45-31 win over host Anderson County.
The win lifts the Fillies to 7-6 overall on the season and 4-0 in Pioneer League action.
While head coach Becky Carlson noted each of Iola’s players shined at various points, some individual performances deserve the spotlight.
Freshman Sydney Wade came off the bench to score 12 early points to give Iola the lead. From there, junior post players Addie Haar and Emery Driskel took the baton to keep the Fillies in control.
It took a while for the Fillies’ offense to get untracked. Not coincidentally, things began humming about the time Wade checked in for the first time.
She recorded Iola’s first field goal at the 3:29 of the first quarter. It also gave the Fillies the lead, 4-3.
Iola didn’t trail again.
Wade added two more 3-pointers before the quarter ended, then another to start the second period. Toni Macha’s 3-point play with 4:56 left in the half put Iola on top, 16-10. Addie Haar’s bucket off an inbounds play a few minutes later pushed the lead to 20-11.
Haar scored twice early in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to 10. Driskel stepped up and scored eight in the third and fourth periods as the Fillies pushed to a 40-23 lead.
Wade spearheaded a key sequence to cut short a Lady Bulldog rally. Anderson County was within 40-27 and had possession with a steal, when Wade zipped in from behind for a steal of her own. She dribbled the length of the court, then dished off to Toni Macha for a lay-up, to push the lead back to 15. Wade then finished Iola’s next possession with a nifty pass to Jo Lohman for another lay-up and a 44-27 lead.
“Sydney’s a great passer and a good shooter,” Carlson said. “She really got us going. Hannah Endicott had some big plays for us on defense. Emery was huge in the second half, and Addie isn’t that tall, but she works her tail off. Everybody did a great job tonight.”
Wade scored 13 to lead the way, followed by Macha with nine. Haar and Driskel scored six apiece. Haar added six rebounds and four steals. Macha had five boards. Wade and Lohman both dished out two assists.
Meanwhile, the Fillies deployed a 1-3-1 zone defense they’d been working on in practice this week. It effectively stymied Anderson County through long portions of both halves.
“We still have some improvement to do,” Carlson said, noting Anderson County missed 16 of 24 free throw attempts that could have changed the complexion of the game, particularly in the first half. The Lady Bulldogs missed 13 of 16 charities through the first three quarters.
“But we’re getting there,” Carlson said. “And to be 4-0 in Pioneer League is nice.”
Paige Scheckel scored 13 to pace Anderson County, 11 coming in the fourth quarter.
Iola (7-6 overall) hosts Osawatomie Tuesday.
Iola (10-10-14-11—45)
Anderson Co. (8-7-4-12—31)
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Wade 0/4-1-2-13, Long 1-0-0-2, Moore 0/1-0-1-3, Piazza 0-0-4-0, Lohman 1-0-1-2, Endicott 1-2-4-4, Haar 3-0-2-6, Platt 0-0-2-0, Driskel 3-0-2-6, Macha 3-3-0-9. TOTALS: 12/5-6-18-45.
Anderson Co. (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Rockers 2-1-2-5, Porter 0-2-0-2, Ratliff 0-0-1-0, McCullough 2-1-4-5, Reagan Jirak 1-0-3-2, Lutz 1-0-1-2, Scheckel 3/1-4-2-13, Kueser 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 10/1-8-13-31.
Fillies get defensive in 45-31 romp
