Iola girls offense shuts-down in league opener

Things seemed to be on track for the Fillies after the first quarter of their 65-20 loss at Burlington on Tuesday.
With senior point guard Colbi Riley back in the lineup after her injury, the Iola girls were finding open shots, defending decently and were down only seven points to the No. 10 ranked team in class 4A-II.
That’s when the train went off the tracks, taking the Fillies to their third straight loss and their first conference loss of the season.
“When we first started out, we had some success and our heads were up and we were feeling good,” head coach Becky Carlson said. “Then we started to make mistakes and then we just thought we couldn’t win.”
The Fillies cut Burlington’s lead to 17-10 before the tailspin, allowing the Lady Wildcats to put up 19 unanswered. That put Iola in a 25-point hole going into the half.
“We could play with them,” Carlson said. “At halftime, the only adjustment was that I said we have to want it more than we do right now. I guess it just has to come with success.”
From the half, it only got worse. Iola didn’t hit a field goal in the third quarter and scored just three free throws to counter a second 20-point surge from Burlington.
That ballooned the Lady Wildcat lead to 42 heading into the fourth quarter, which triggered the running clock.
The Fillies were led in scoring by junior Ellie Carson who had 11, including six points early while Iola was still in the game. The game also marked the junior’s first start for the Fillies.
“Ellie just really takes the ball to the hole,” Carlson said .”When she catches it she looks at the rim first, which is good.”
The only other Fillie to score a field goal was Riley who had six points but was the main facilitator when Iola got into a rhythm.
“Colbi is just really calm and she takes such good shots,” Carlson said. “It’s nice to have her back out there.”
The Fillies will head back to Iola for their home opener on Friday versus Prairie View. The game is the first of two at home before winter break.
“We’re ready to be home,” Carlson said. “I’m hoping for a couple of victories before Christmas.”
Iola (8-3-3-6—20) (2pt/3pt-FT-F-TP) Carson 4/0-3-1-11, Riley 2/0-2-2-6, Holloway 0/0-2-1-2, Bycroft 0/0-1-0-1, Moore 0/0-0-1-0, Sutterby 0/0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 6/0-8-8-20.
Burlington (15-21-20-9—65) (2pt/3pt-FT-F-TP) Young 9/1-1-2-22, Doebele 3/0-2-2-8, Sloyer 2/1-1-2-8, Gilman 1/1-1-0-6, Thorp 2/0-1-4-5, Kuhlmann 2/0-1-1-5, Wagner 2/0-0-0-4, Hess 0/1-0-0-3, Caldwell 1/0-0-1-2, Watkins 1/0-0-1-2, Dunn 0/0-0-2-0, Mefford 0/0-0-1-0.