An energy-filled Iola High gym made for an intense atmosphere during the Mustangs’ game against Chanute on Friday night. Despite what was the best effort shown by the Mustangs on the court all season, they fell short, 42-37, to the Blue Comets. THE MUSTANGS also had a new faces on the team Friday. Ethan Holloway was called up to the varsity squad for his first game. He scored all four of his points in the second quarter and grabbed four rebounds. EARLIER, THE JV Mustangs lost 37-36. Ethan Holloway led the team with 12 points, Isaiah Fawson followed with seven. Joey Zimmerman scored six points, Brice Aiello added five points and Braden Plumlee added three. Chase Regehr made a basket and Mason Ingle hit a free throw. THE FRESHMEN lost their first game of the season 38-32. Matt Komma scored six points to lead the team. Cale Barnhart and Zach Cokely each scored five. Evan Sigg finished with four. Matt Miller and Isaac Vink each scored three. Kanyon Beasley, Ethan Tavarez and Caden Knavel each scored two. Chanute 42, Iola 37
“From an intensity and passion standpoint, I think that’s by far our best game,” coach Bill Peeper said. “We struggled to handle the ball well in the first half. We had 15 turnovers and only nine shots that we attempted, we were 5-9 in the first half. But, we were right in the game because of our energy, passion and intensity that we played with.”
The Mustangs trailed 22-17 at the half.
Kaden Macha led in scoring for the Mustangs with six points. After a sluggish 12-6 start for Chanute, Iola stayed in the game with an 11-point second quarter.
The only reason Chanute had a five-point lead at the half was because of a 3-pointer made by Derek Sharp as time expired. The sharp-shooting Sharp was the biggest difference in the game, especially in the first half. He ended the night with 20 points — he made three 3-pointers in the first half.
“We’ve had heart-to-hearts this week,” Peeper said. “I think it’s pretty clear we are in that part of the season where we have to put up or shut up. There’s no more waiting around.”
The conversations throughout the week must have resonated.
The Mustangs started the second half on a quick run. Brett Taylor hit Adam Peterson with a pass inside for an easy bucket. On Iola’s next possession Macha drove inside the lane for the tough basket off the backboard. Iola trailed 24-21 with 4:10 left in the third.
A few minutes later, Chanute led 28-21. Macha started an Iola 5-0 run to end the quarter. He made a nice fadeaway shot from just inside the free throw line. Taylor followed that with a quick 3-pointer and Iola was only down 28-26 going into the fourth quarter.
With 5:25 left in the game, Macha served Peterson with a quick inside dish on an inbounds and suddenly the game was tied 32-32.
Chanute’s Trey Lind quickly responded with a basket in the paint on two straight possessions.
Iola’s Shane Walden picked up a foul and went to the line for a one-and-one opportunity. He drained each. But, Lind did what he does best and scored inside again for the Blue Comets. The score favored Chanute 38-34 with 3:10 left.
After a couple made free throws by Chanute, Iola was down six with about two minutes to go. After good ball movement, Macha was left open for the open three. Iola trailed 40-37 with a minute and a half left.
The Mustangs got the ball back, but weren’t able to score and were forced to foul. The Blue Comets escaped with the win.
“To compete with that team — a team that probably had us down 30 at halftime last time, and to be in the mix to have a shot says a lot about these guys,” Peeper said. “The fact it hurt when we went into the locker room afterward because we were in the game and because we competed and expected to win shows us what we need to know about these guys.”
“Throughout the course of the season for every player we are evaluating the best way to use these kids and what level they should be playing,” Peeper said. “Several freshmen have worked their way to playing on JV. At this point, we’ve asked a lot from (Holloway) throughout the year and he’s responded to those things.”
Peeper liked what he saw of Holloway in the two quarters he played.
“He was a big benefit for us. He drew a half dozen fouls at least. He had four rebounds in just the second quarter alone,” Peeper said.
“He showed us what we thought he would show us. He gave us hard work and changed the dynamic for us a little. He brings some size off the bench. That’s not a knock on our bench, I just don’t have another 6-6 guy that I can bring in.”
Iola (3-10) travels to Santa Fe Trail on Tuesday.
Chanute (12-10-6-14—42) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Manbeck 1-1-3-3, Richards 1-0-3-2, Haviland 1-0-2-2, Lind 4-2-4-10, Sharp 3/3-5-0-20, Erikson 2-1-3-5, Cooper 0-0-3-0
Iola (6-11-9-11—37) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Cooper 0-0-1-0, Regehr 0-0-1-0, Endicott 0-2-2-2, Taylor 0/1-1-4-4, Walden 2-2-4-6, Macha 3/2-1-4-13, Holloway 1-2-0-4, Peterson 4-0-3-8
Blue Comets streak past high ‘effort’ Mustangs Iola loses 42-37 in game that features most ‘passion’ and ‘energy’ all season
