The Iola High boys and girls freshmen hosted Chanute to tip-off a home tournament on Monday night.
The Mustang boys played down to the wire and fended off the Blue Comets in the final minutes of a tightly contested matchup, 36-31, while the Mustang girls were outshot and outrebounded in a 44-7 loss.
Girls Basketball
Iola was only able to suit up five players for their freshmen team. Mahallie Genoble, Stephanie Fees, Jenna Morrison, Naveah Hancock and Bethany Miller took to the hardwood to match up against Chanute.
Miller got the Mustangs on the board early with a layup in the first quarter. Chanute responded with 11 points. Kylee Sandborn and Jacqueline Smoot each hit three’s to help their Blue Comets take an 11-2 advantage at the end of the first.
“It’s helping them understand our team dynamic, getting them used to our plays and becoming better all-around basketball players,” said Iola head coach Ali Peters. “They have done a good job in practice of stepping up and trying to learn all of that stuff.”
Hancock then put Iola on the board in the second quarter when she dribbled underneath for a layup for the only other Mustang points before halftime. Chanute’s Sandborn carried the Comets in the second quarter scoring 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers.
Iola trailed Chanute at halftime, 24-4.
The Mustangs were then outscored by the Blue Comets in the third quarter, 13-3. Iola’s three points were delivered off a Fees layup and a Miller free throw. Chanute was paced by Anna Franco and Sandborn each driving underneath for layups. Chanute led, 37-7.
“We’re really trying to work with Bethany Miller to be that big post,” Peters said. “She has the height and getting it inside to her and helping her get used to and comfortable with that responsibility is big. Being that person, you have to be confident in yourself.”
The Iola girls were shutout in the fourth while Chanute scratched seven points on the scoreboard. Blue Comet freshman of the day, Sandborn, went for another pair of layups to help her squad secure the 44-7 victory over Iola.
Miller led Iola offensively with her three points while Fees and Hancock scored two points apiece.
Iola (3-1-3—7) (FG/3pt-FT-F—TP): Genoble 0-0-1-0, Fees 1-0-1-2, Hancock 1-0-1-2, Miller 1-1-0-3.
Chanute (12/6-1-5—44) (FG/3pt-FT-F—TP): Franco 5-0-0-10, Raroa 1-0-1-3, Sandborn 5/4-0-1-22, Smith 0-1-2-1, Hicks 1-1-1-3, Smoot 1/1-0-0-5,
Boys Basketball
The Iola freshmen boys played a competitive game, putting great passing and tremendous defensive rotations on display in a 36-31 victory.
Iola freshman coach Chris Weide said the experience of playing at the high school was valuable.
“Usually they play at the elementary school so this gives them a taste of what they’re going to have at the JV and varsity level and get in front of a good crowd. Playing against a team like Chanute, where they bring some people, is also a good environment.”
