GARNETT — Iola High’s Fillies opened Saturday by outscoring their hosts from Anderson County 12-2, and ended with a 16-2 run.
But Anderson County showed once again why it’s the class of the Pioneer League, putting together runs of 25 and 14 straight points to win, 47-36.
The loss comes on the cusp of a frenetic end of the regular season in which the Fillies will play on three straight days before beginning Class 4A substate play next Saturday, most likely at Fort Scott.
“We really have nothing to lose,” Fillies head coach Kelsey Johnson said. “The girls are going to go out and attack and do their best.”
They attacked from the get-go against Anderson County. Hannah Gardner and Lauryn Holloway connected from 3-point range in the first two minutes.
Becca Sprague’s layup put Iola up 12-2 before the crowd had time to find its seats.
But Anderson County showed its signature defensive pressure, forcing a litany of Fillies turnovers to storm back with 18 straight points to end the quarter, then seven more to start the second period.
Josie Plumlee’s baseline drive ended the Bulldog run and pulled Iola within 27-14.
Aysha Houk’s driving layup late in the half pulled Iola within 31-20, before Anderson County scored twice in the last 7 seconds of the half to carry a 15-point margin into the locker room.
Any hopes of a comeback evaporated in an ice-cold third quarter in which Iola failed to dent the scoreboard.
“The effort is there,” Johnson said. “The girls are working their butts off. It’s just continuous mistakes.”
Anderson County led 45-20 before Iola ended the game with a flourish. Plumlee and Sprague each scored six points in the fourth quarter, and Gardner another 3-pointer to close the final gap to 11.
“It’s the same story all year long: turnovers,” Johnson said. “When we have 35 turnovers and you lose by 11. It’s a tell-tale sign right there, that you can play right with them. It’s hard because I see so much potential. We’ve done it in spurts, but we haven’t put it together.”
Gardner led with 11, giving Iola a much-needed spark from the perimeter.
It’s not a coincidence.
Johnson said the seniors have become markedly more aggressive, in practice, and in games.
