Fillies top over-matched Trojans

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Sports

February 15, 2017 - 12:00 AM

The Osawatomie girls’ basketball team picked up its first win in nearly four seasons just two weeks ago when they beat Bishop Seabury Academy.
On Tuesday, the Fillies wanted to make sure the message was sent early that the Trojans wouldn’t be picking up a second win in Iola.
“We knew that we had to come out strong and not take them lightly,” Iola junior guard Colbi Riley said. “We knew it was like any other game and we better start off well. So we came out with fire.”
Iola got the paint established quickly with senior forward Toni Macha scoring the game’s first six points.
“It is usual for us to come out intimidated, but we came out like we were in charge and that set the tone for the game,” Macha said.
Junior guards Chloe Gardner and Riley extended the lead to 11-2 with a pair of baskets. Riley’s was of the three-point variety which is a good sign for a team that has lacked floor spacing from the wing spot all season outside of reserve sophomore Madisyn Holloway.
“I’ve been working on my outside shot a lot more,” Riley said. “It felt really good when I hit that three, because they have been off all year, so I just kind of got my confidence back.”
The lead grew to 22-4 midway through the second quarter with five more points from Macha.
Iola built a 27-10 lead at halftime and that was without star point guard Sydney Wade scoring a single point. The senior focused instead on getting her teammates involved and into a rhythm.
“Sydney did a great job of finding her teammates,” Iola coach Becky Carlson said. “Most of Toni’s baskets came on assists.”
In the second half, the rest of the Fillies – especially the starters – followed their leader’s example and the Fillies’ bench

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