Bulldogs nip Mustangs on last-second shot

INDEPENDENCE – Iola High’s Mustangs rallied for a five-point deficit to forge a 41-41 tie with 36 seconds remaining in Friday night’s game.
Christian Kauth’s back-to-back baskets put the Mustangs in a position to win the game. Jerrik Sigg had hit one of two free throws earlier and the Iola defense had stymied Independence High’s Bulldogs.
But the Bulldogs on their home court worked for the final shot. And Easton Julian, who had not scored any points until the fourth quarter, scored the game-winner with six seconds on the clock.
Iola’s final long shot was off the mark. After a 3-0 start, the Mustangs dropped their third game in a row.
“It was a great effort all night by our kids. The last possession was more on me than on the kids. I should have called a timeout but we thought with the group we had on the floor that we could get a good look in transition,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach.
Iola knocked down two three-point shots from Levi Ashmore and Clint Heffern in the first quarter. Those helped lift the Mustangs to an 8-7 lead by the buzzer.
The scoring edge was reversed in the second quarter with the Bulldogs. It was all tied 15-15 at intermission.
“The game was tied a lot. We had a tough-shooting night but the kids battled. From top to bottom, we got contribution for everyone tonight,” Peeper said. “Defensively, we did a nice job all night and we rebounded well.”
Independence’s Heath Hoffmeister opened the second half with a three-pointer. That was countered by a basket from Heffern and two free throws by Ashmore.
A trey by Heffern, who had three three-pointers in the game, tied the game at 22-22. The see-saw action continued. Another Heffern three finished off a 10-0 run by Iola that put the Mustangs up 34-32.
T.J. Reed, who led Independence with 17 points, scored late to tie the game up once again. The teams went to the fourth quarter at 34-all.
Julian scored all seven of his points for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter. The other basket for Independence was by Reed.
Kauth did just the same for Iola, scoring his six in the final eight minutes.
“These kids played their tails off tonight and I’m very proud of the effort. We just didn’t get it at the end,” Peeper said.
Iola’s guard tandem of Heffern and Ashmore powered the Mustangs. Heffern scored 11 points and dished out four assists. Ashmore, who was 5-for-5 at the free-throw line, tossed in 10 points.
Jarred Latta pulled down seven rebounds and Sigg handled six rebounds.
Iola downed 6 of 11 free throws. Independence sank 5 of 11 attempts at the line.
Hoffmeister finished with 10 points.
It was a tough all the way around for Mustang basketball. The Iola junior varsity lost 30-25 with Mason Coons and Adam Kauth each scoring seven points.
Independence won the freshman game 57-33. No individual scoring was available.
Iola (3-3) is idle until after Christmas break. The Mustangs have played only one of their six games at home to start the season.
They play at Anderson County High in Garnett on Jan. 3. Then they are home against Girard on Jan. 6
Iola (8-7-19-7-41) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 1/3-0-1-11, Ashmore 1/1-5-2-10, Latta 0/1-1-3-4, Sigg 0-2-4-2, Taylor 0-0-3-0, Larson 3-0-3-6, C. Kauth 3-0-4-6, Coons 1-0-0-2. TOTALS: 9/5-8-20-41.
Independence (7-8-19-9-43) (FG/3-pt): Webster 2-0-2-4, Reed 3/3-2-1-17, Moore 1-0-3-2, Shaffer 0-3-4-3, Hoffmeister 2/2-0-3-10, Julian 2/1-4-7. TOTALS: 10/6-5-17-43.