COFFEYVILLE — Slow starts did in Iola Middle School’s girls Tuesday.
The eighth-grade A team trailed host Roosevelt Middle School of Coffeyville 8-4 after one quarter and 24-12 at halftime.
A spirited Pony comeback fell short in a 39-33 defeat.
The seventh-grade A team contest followed the same pattern. Roosevelt led 9-2 after one quarter and 20-6 at halftime of a 34-19 victory.
Roosevelt also won a combined B team contest, 22-5.
Iola will need to regroup fast. The Ponies return home Thursday to host Fort Scott.
The eighth-grade A team outscored Roosevelt 11-4 to pull within 28-23 after three quarters, but could not close the gap further.
“The score didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but our effort was outstanding,” IMS head coach Marty Taylor said. “Carly Cescon came off the bench and was fantastic. Her effort really made a difference. I thought Karly McGuffin stepped up tonight and played really well.”
McGuffin led the eighth-grade attack with 13 points and seven rebounds. Colbi Riley followed with nine points and eight boards. Cescon chipped in with seven points and three rebounds. Katie Bauer pulled in 11 rebounds to go with four points. Scout Rush also had seven rebounds.
Iola’s seventh-graders outscored Roosevelt 10-6 in the third quarter, but it was too little, too late.
“We just didn’t come ready to play,” Taylor said. “Once we got started, we played pretty well, but we just got into a hole early.”
Madisyn Holloway had six points to lead IMS, followed by Mia Aronson and Kendra Sprague with four points each. Piper Moore scored three points and had seven rebounds. Charvelle Peterson scored two.
Makayla Bycroft scored three points and Jennifer Tidd two in the combined B team loss.
Pony girls hit the road
