PITTSBURG — Playing on the road for the second straight night, Iola Middle School’s girls lost three of four closely contested basketball games Tuesday.
Iola’s eighth-grade A-team pushed out to a 20-12 halftime lead on host Pittsburg. But the Ponies only scored four points, two in each quarter, in the second half, losing 27-24.
“We didn’t handle the pressure very well late in the game,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head coach. “But these girls are making some strikes in the right direction.
“Kyra Moore played a very good game on both ends of the floor.”
Jo Lohman paced the Ponies with 10 points and three rebounds. Shelby Reno and Emmalee Seabolt each had four points and three rebounds.
Moore, Emma Piazza and Lexie Long scored two points apiece.
The Iola eighth-grade B-team lost 13-9 to Pittsburg. Seabolt scored eight points and Long had one point.
Iola’s lone win came in seventh-grade B-team action. The Ponies edged out Pittsburg 17-16.
Hannah Ingle fired in nine points for Iola followed by four from Tryia Harvey. Elise Wolf and Makali Cleaver each had two points.
“Makaiah Larney is really doing a good job for us with her hustle,” Taylor said.
The seventh-grade A-team Ponies came up short, 16-13 after leading 7-5 at haltime. Ashlie Shields scored three points.
Scoring two points each were Makala Platt, Cleaver, Harvey and Olivia Bannister. Taylor Sell grabbed five rebounds while Platt, Cleaver and Bannister each had three rebounds.
“The girls improved from Monday night. We have a long way to go, but they’ll be OK,” Taylor said.
Iola hosts Columbus Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m. in the IMS gym.
Pony girls play close games at Pittsburg
