Iola High’s Mustangs never were in Friday night’s final game of the first semester. Visiting Independence High’s Bulldogs had a 12-2 run in the first quarter and never looked back.
Independence hit one of two free throws at the 5:38 mark of the fourth quarter. That triggered a running clock with a 30 point lead, 42-12.
The Bulldogs took home a 46-17 win. The Mustangs go into Christmas break at 0-6.
“We lacked that key ingredient it takes to win. We played scared tonight,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach.
“It is very disappointing that it didn’t matter who was on the court; we didn’t have any spark.”
A three-point play by Jarred Latta made it 14-7 with 6:15 left. The Mustangs trailed 23-9 at halftime.
Independence outscored Iola 14-0 in the third quarter.
Iola went from the 1:25 mark of the second quarter when Mikal Bossell scored to the 7:41 mark of the fourth quarter without scoring. Christian Kauth’s three-pointer broke the long span.
Kauth ended up leading Iola in scoring with five points. Fifteen of Iola’s 17 points were scored by players off the bench.
“There’s no difference from the first guy on the team to the 12th guy on the team tonight,” Peeper said. “Tonight there was no hunger, no fire out there from anyone.
“Everybody got to show what they could do because we tried them all out there. We need to find guys who have that passion to compete and win basketball games.”
Iola was 6 of 26 from the field and 3 of 3 at the line. Braden Larson had three rebounds and Charles Apt had two assists.
Easton Julian paced the Bulldogs with 13 points.
Independence won the junior varsity game 37-33. Trent Latta had 10 points for Iola.
The Mustang freshmen won 54-43. Adam Kauth fired in 30 points for Iola and T. Latta had 12. The freshmen were 17 of 23 at the free-throw line.
Iola (2-7-0-8—17) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 0-0-1-0, Coons 0/1-0-0-3, Conner 0-0-3-0, Bossell 1-0-1-2, J. Latta 1-1-1-3, Taylor 1-0-3-2, Larson 1-0-3-2, C. Kauth 0/1-2-2-5, Apt 0-0-3-0. TOTALS: 4/2-3-17-17.
Independence (12-11-14-9—46) (FG/3-pt): Botts 3/1-0-0-9, Gar. Webster 1/1-0-2-5, Coda 0-1-0-1, Gav. Webster 2-0-1-4, Steinle 2-3-2-7, Shaffer 0-0-2-0, Farmer 1-0-0-2, Julian 2/1-6-0-13, Nickles 2-1-2-5. TOTALS: 13/3-11-9-46.
Bulldogs roll by Mustangs
