FREDONIA Sharp shooting told the story in Iola Highs blowout win over Yates Center in round 1 of the Wilson County Classic.
The Fillies connected on six first-half 3-pointers to pull away early, and earn a 59-38 win over the Wildcats.
We are young, and until we learn how to play defense, teams are going to beat us, Yates Center head coach Abbie Collins said. We are trying to learn the basics, and knowing how to close out. Thats what we need to work on now.
Senior Kelsey Morrison took full advantage of YCs inability to locate her on the perimeter. Morrison fired back-to-back 3-pointers, and Becca Sprague finished an and-one opportunity to put Iola ahead 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
After a Wildcat three-point play, three treys from Iolas Morrison, Elysia Kunkler and Josie Plumlee put the flourishing Fillies in the drivers seat heading into halftime. Head coach Becky Carlson had nothing but smiles for her teams 25-9 lead at half.
It was great, wasnt it? Carlson said. When the defense was closing in, Becca (Sprague) and Lauryn (Holloway) did a great job kicking it out and finding the open person.
The Fillies 3-point barrage fell quiet in the second, but the Iola continued to score at will. Able to maneuver past her defenser, Kunkler scored eight straight points on feeds inside from her Filly teammates. Kunkler and Sprague finished as Iolas leading scorers with 14 apiece.
They went man-to-man at halftime, and I told her (Kunkler) at halftime, hey, maybe your outside shots arent falling, but theres nobody that stop you.. Go to the rim, Carlson said.
Iola cruised into the fourth quarter holding a 40-17 lead. And while they were down, the Wildcats didnt concede early. After failing to score in the first half, YCs Maddelynn Collins scored 16 points in the second half, but couldnt inch the Wildcats much closer. The Fillies comfortably walked away with the 56-37 win.
Where the Fillies have run cold from beyond the arc at times this season, a night like Monday was a nice sigh of relief.
They were just ready to play, Carlson said. We take shots like that all the time, but when they fall in it just looks so much better.
The Fillies will be right back in action tomorrow in their second game of the Wilson County Classic. Iola is slated to play one-seed Cherryvale at 3:15 at Fredonia High. If Iola comes away with the win, it will advance to the tournaments championship game.
BOX SCORE
Yates Center (6-3-14-14 37) (pts): Morgan Collins 7, Maddelynn Collins 16, Proper 6, Westerman 2, Solander 6.
Iola (14-11-15-16 56) (pts): Gardner 6, Bycroft 1, Morrison 9, Lampe 2, Plumlee 5, Holloway 1, Kunkler 14, Taylor 2, Curry 2, Sprague 14.
