BURLINGTON — An offensive dry spell in the second and third quarters Saturday put Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade girls in a hole.
The Ponies responded down the stretch, but could not come back to win. The 23-18 loss to host Burlington in Burlington’s tournament gave Iola second place.
The championship game got very physical,” Ponies head coach Marty Taylor said. “We didn’t adjust very well early, but the girls played hard and never quit, and put themselves in a position to win.”
Toni Macha led the eighth-graders with eight points and four rebounds in the championship game. She was followed by Riley Murry with six points and four rebounds. Sydney Wade added two points and two rebounds, and Lexi Heslop had two points and four boards.
Iola led 8-5 before Burlington went on a 12-2 run that spanned the second and third quarters to lead 17-10.
The eighth-graders also defeated Royster Middle School of Chanute 27-15 in the opening round.
Iola led 7-2 over Royster after one quarter in the opening round. The lead was at 14-9 at halftime and 23-13 after three quarters.
Macha and Heslop scored seven points apiece to lead Iola. Heslop also had nine rebounds; Macha four. Murry added six points and three rebounds. Taylor Stout had five points and three boards. Wade had two points, two rebounds and six assists.
THE seventh-graders lost their opener, 23-15 to Chanute, but rebounded to win the third-place game, 31-15 over Eureka.
“The girls came out and played one of their better halves against Chanute,” Taylor said. “We just didn’t put two halves together.”
Iola led 6-2 after one quarter and 12-6 at halftime. Their lead was at 13-10 before Royster closed the game with a 9-2 run to take the win.
Colbi Riley led the Ponies with eight points. Scout Rush followed with three points. Eliza Hale and Karly McGuffin scored two points apiece.
“The girls did a good job of coming and playing hard against Eureka.”
Iola turned an 11-10 hlaftime deficit around by outscoring Eureka 8-1 in the third quarter and 12-4 down the stretch.
Riley scored 21 points, followed by Hale with eight and McGuffin with two.
Iola resumes play this afternoon at Chanute.
