So close.
The Iola-Scandinavia girls’ basketball team trailed by eight points with two minutes remaining Dec. 7 and dropped a 37-36 nonconference decision to Marion.
The Thunderbirds also defeated Wild Rose 39-37 Dec. 5 after opening the season with losses to Auburndale and Stratford.
Marion 37, I-S 36
IOLA – The T-Birds led 7-5 after one quarter and 18-15 at halftime, but the Mustangs outscored the home team 13-6 in the third quarter.
Emily Sether and Kylie Johnson led I-S with eight and seven points, respectively.
“We nearly erased an eight-point deficit in the final two minutes,” coach Mark Wester said. “A shot from just inside the free-throw line rimmed out with a few seconds remaining. A spirited effort by both teams to recover the rebound ended with Marion securing it as the horn sounded. I was happy with the competitive effort we gave in this game, as well as Thursday vs. Wild Rose.”
I-S 39, Wild Rose 37
WILD ROSE – Wild Rose outscored the visitors 7-5 in the first quarter, but a 9-5 advantage in the second quarter gave the T-Birds a 14-12 halftime lead. The Wildcats outscored I-S 11-8 in the third quarter to take a 23-22 lead into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats took a 36-31 lead on a pair of Makayla Muntner free throws, but Tyisha Weed hit a free throw for the T-Birds to tie the game at 36-36 before Johnson gave the T-Birds a 38-36 lead with 33 seconds remaining.
Brooke Phillips led the T-Birds with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Sether chipped in with nine points.
“It was a hard-fought victory,” Wester said. “The girls displayed the necessary competitive grit for us to come from behind in the fourth quarter and prevail.”
Auburndale 47, I-S 24
AUBURNDALE – The Apaches outscored the T-Birds 11-5 in the first quarter, 13-7 in the second and 13-2 in the third quarter Dec. 3.
Auburndale also held I-S to nine baskets.
Phillips led the T-Birds with nine points, while CharAnn Bonikowske had a team-high six rebounds.
Stratford 57, I-S 31
IOLA – Twenty-three turnovers hurt the T-Birds Nov. 26 in a season-opening loss to the Tigers.
I-S trailed 14-2 after one quarter, 33-14 at halftime and 39-21 after three quarters. Phillips and Johnson led the T-Birds with eight and six points, respectively.
“It was not the start we were looking for,” Wester said. “Stratford was better than us in all areas on this night. Their defensive pressure on the ball and overall athleticism made it difficult for us.”
Wester believes Amherst, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Bonduel and Weyauwega-Fremont will contend for a Central Wisconsin 8 Conference championship this season.
“We return our entire team from last season,” he said. “We are looking to be improved, as many of our players have played significant minutes at the varsity level. The top of our conference will be strong as usual and we have a number of strong nonconference opponents. We look forward to these challenges and getting better daily. Our goal is to battle for a place in the top third of the league.”
The T-Birds will open CWC-8 play at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Wittenberg-Birnamwood. I-S will also host Stevens Point Pacelli at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Iola-Scandinavia Girls’ Basketball 2013-14 Schedule
Varsity
Tuesday, Nov. 26 – vs. Stratford, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – at Auburndale, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 5 – at Wild Rose, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 – vs. Marion, 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 13 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 20 – at Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 27 – vs. Tigerton, 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10 – vs. Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – at Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 23 – at Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – at Rosholt, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7 – vs. Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 –at Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 – vs. Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18 – at Wisconsin Valley Lutheran, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 24 – at Port Edwards, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 27 – vs. Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Tuesday, Nov. 26 – vs. Stratford, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 – at Auburndale, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 5 – at Wild Rose, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7 – vs. Marion, 12:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 13 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 20 – at Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 27 – vs. Tigerton, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10 – vs. Amherst, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – at Manawa, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 23 – at Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – at Rosholt, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7 – vs. Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11 –at Amherst, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 – vs. Manawa, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 6 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 24 – at Port Edwards, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 27 – vs. Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Middle School
Monday, Jan. 6 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9 – vs. Port Edwards, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 13 – at Almond-Bancroft, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 16 – at St. Peter’s, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 20 – vs. Rosholt, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 23 – at Wild Rose, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 27 – vs. Plainfield Tri-County, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30 – at Amherst, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 3 – at Port Edwards, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – vs. Manawa, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 6 – vs. Almond-Bancroft, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 10 –vs. St. Peter’s, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 13 – at Rosholt, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 17 – vs. Wild Rose, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 20 – at Plainfield Tri-County, 5:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 24 – vs. Amherst, 5:30 p.m.