Wellsville edges Fillies

WELLSVILLE — That elusive brass ring, in the form of their first win of the season, remains just out of reach for Iola High’s girls.
Tuesday’s loss may be the toughest of all for the Fillies, who battled back valiantly to make up an 11-point second-half deficit to twice take the lead in the fourth quarter.
But a pair of costly mistakes in the game’s final minute turned the game in Wellsville’s favor.
The Lady Eagles took the lead for good on a pair of Darcy Bonzo free throws, then parlayed a steal into a layup by Ashley Sparks in the final minute for a 31-29 win.
The loss could be attributed in part to Iola’s energy consumed in the comeback, Fillies coach Becky Carlson said.
“We’ve got to start out stronger than we did tonight,” Carlson said. “By the time we got the lead, we didn’t have any energy left.”
Iola trailed 24-13 late in the third quarter when the Fillies began to find their groove. Emma Piazza’s 3-pointer at the 6:07 mark of the fourth quarter capped a 12-0 Iola run to give the Fillies their first lead of the game at 25-24.
A Moriah Kayhill jumper returned the lead to Wellsville before the Fillies’ Emery Driskel scored inside to put Iola back on top 27-26 with 4:21 left.
The Fillies failed to extend the lead on their next two possessions after the Lady Eagles turned the ball over twice on traveling calls.
Bonzo’s charities gave Wellsville a 28-27 lead with 1:25 remaining.
Jo Lohman missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw attempt with 1:08 left, giving possession back to Wellsville and setting up perhaps the most crucial sequence of the tension-packed final moments.
Iola’s Lexie Long disrupted Wellsville’s attempt to run a stall offense, stepping in for the steal. But teammate Hannah Endicott turned her head to run upcourt and didn’t see Long’s outlet pass headed in her direction.
Instead, Sparks retrieved the ball and went up for an easy score, putting Wellsville on top 30-27 with under a minute left.
Mikaela Platt drained two free throws to cut the deficit to 30-29.
Wellsville went into full-stall mode, draining all but 4 seconds off the clock before Iola committed a foul, much to Carlson’s chagrin.
“We told them to foul, but I’m not sure if they just got caught up in the game,” Carlson said.
Erica McTaggart hit 1 of 2 free throws, and Long stepped out of bounds before attempting a three-quarters court heave at the buzzer.
After a slow start — Wellsville led 4-2 after one quarter — the Lady Eagles took control in the second quarter, taking advantage of their full-court press during a 14-5 run to lead 18-7 at halftime.
Iola began its comeback in short order to start the second half. Endicott and Lohman scored to start the half.
Long’s three-pointer with 1:53 left in the third began the Fillies’ 12-point outburst. Emma Sigg scored in the final minute of the third period, then Platt scored seconds into the fourth quarter to close the gap to 24-20. Endicott scored again on Iola’s next possession, and a Wellsville turnover set up Piazza’s 3-pointer.
“I’m not disappointed in our effort in the second half, but I was in the first half,” Carlson said.
Platt led Iola with eight points, followed by Endicott with six and Piazza with six each.
“I was really pleased with how aggressive Mikaela was tonight,” Carlson said. “She stepped up and did a good job. I thought Lexie Long did a good job, as did Emma Sigg.”
Piazza, Driskel, Endicott and Lohman shared rebounding honors with four apiece. Driskel had three steals, followed by Long, Endicott and Lohman with two each. Long also had two assists.
McTaggart scored 10 of her game-high 11 points for Wellsville in the first half. Bonze scored seven.
Iola prevailed, 28-13, in the junior varsity contest. Ashlie Shields scored 10 points to lead the Fillies JV. Endicott scored four, while Shelby Reno and Piazza added three points each. Lohman, Platt, Driskel and Taelyn Sutterby each had two points.
Wellsville won the C team contest 13-4 in two quarters. Shields and McKayli Cleaver had two points each for the Fillies.
Iola resumes play at home Friday against Anderson County.
Iola (2-5-11-11—29)
Wellsville (4-14-6-7—31)
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Long 0/1-0-0-3, Piazza 1/1-1-1-6, Lohman 1-0-3-2, Ford 0-0-1-0, Endicott 3-0-4-6, Platt 3-2-1-8, Driskel 0-2-0-2-2, Sigg 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 9/2-5-12-29.
Wellsville (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Newhouse 0-0-1-0, Bonzo 1/1-2-4-7, Kayhill 2-0-3-4, McTaggart 5-1-4-11, Geist 1-3-1-5, Sparks 2-0-1-4, Strawn 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 11/1-6-15-31.