Pony girls fall short

Iola Middle School’s girls basketball teams remain in search of that elusive first win of the 2013 season.
The seventh-grade A team led their visitors from Roosevelt Middle School of Coffeyville 7-2 into the second quarter before Roosevelt hit high gear on offense and defense.
Roosevelt ended the game with a 27-4 run to win 29-11.
The Pony eighth-graders, meanwhile, were within striking distance of Roosevelt on several occasions in the second half, but could not put together enough offense in a 25-16 loss.
The defeats drop both teams to 0-3.

A PIPER Moore 3-pointer and a pair of free throws sparked the IMS seventh-graders early. Kendra Sprague’s basket early in the second quarter boosted the lead to 7-2 before Roosevelt’s pressure defense began to take shape.
Roosevelt ended the half with a 9-1 run to take an 11-8 halftime lead, then outscored Iola 12-1 in the third quarter.
Moore led the IMS seventh-graders with five points and three rebounds, Sprague followed with four points and 13 rebounds. Shaylee Sutterby and Madisyn Holloway added one point and three boards each.
“We came out early and played well,” Iola head coach Marty Taylor said. “Now, we have to keep the same intensity for four quarters.”

THE EIGHTH-GRADERS fell behind 9-4 after one quarter and could never make up the deficit.
They didn’t go down without a fight.
Colbi Riley repeatedly attacked the Roosevelt defense with her driving in the fourth quarter, scoring three points. Madison Carlin’s free throw with about 3 minutes left cut Roosevelt’s lead to 19-14. But Iola came up empty on three straight possessions as Roosevelt closed the game with a 6-1 run.
“The girls played hard tonight,” Taylor said. “We made a couple of mistakes down the stretch, but the effort was there.”
Riley led the way with six points and 11 rebounds, followed by Karly McGuffin with five points and five boards. Carlin scored three and Katie Bauer had two points and six rebounds.
In B-team action, Iola dropped a 24-5 decision. Macayla Bycroft led the squad with three points. Carley Cescon scored two.
The Ponies resume play Thursday at Independence.