LOUISBURG – Baldwin High’s Chad Berg buried a three-point field goal with 2:15 left in Friday’s championship game. It provided just enough of a gap for the Bulldogs to hand Iola High’s Mustangs their first loss of the season.
In a tight game at Louisburg High, the Mustangs weren’t able to get to the lead and stay. Their last lead was 6-5 with three minutes left in the first quarter.
But the Mustangs have nothing to hang their heads about. They went from finishing fifth in the first Bulldog/Wildcat Classic last year to playing for the championship this year.
The Mustangs lost to the Bulldogs 40-35 Friday.
“We appreciate where we were in the tournament and having a chance to win it,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach. “It was a close game.
“We’re not disappointed in getting second in the tournament. The disappointment is we didn’t give our best effort tonight.”
Peeper talked about the Bulldogs beating the Mustangs on the hustle plays. Plus the Bulldogs shot the three-pointer as well as the Mustangs, both had five.
Iola’s Jarred Latta and Braden Larson scored back-to-back baskets midway through the fourth quarter. It was 34-33. The Mustangs could not convert on a couple opportunities to take the lead and the Bulldogs worked the basketball and time off the clock.
Right after Berg’s trey, Baldwin had the ball back and again took time off the clock. The Bulldogs hit a couple of late free throws to seal the win.
“We were right there throughout the game. We just didn’t make our own breaks tonight. We went away from the things that got us to this point,” Peeper said.
Going into the second quarter tied at 6-6, Baldwin took the lead and Iola played catch-up the rest of the night. Kauth drilled a trey near halftime making it a 16-14 Bulldog lead.
The Mustangs and Bulldogs picked up the pace in the second half. Clint Heffern found the net from long range to put Iola up 17-16 to open the third quarter.
Baldwin answered with a four-point run. Levi Ashmore, who led Iola with 14 points, tied the game up at 22-22.
Iola was one to three points back after that. Berg hit another three then Ashmore responded with a steal, a layup and a free throw after being fouled on the play.
The Mustangs trailed 30-29 as the fourth quarter began. The Bulldogs had a 4-0 run in the first three minutes. It was enough to keep the Mustangs at bay.
“Levi had a nice game for us. Christian came off the bench and really played well. These two kept us in the game with some nice hustle plays,” Peeper said.
Ashmore had three steals and three assists along with his 14 points. Kauth finished with nine points, five rebounds and two steals. Iola shot 41 percent, 14 of 31, from the field.
Neither team shot many free throws. Iola was 2 of 2 while Baldwin was 5 of 11.
Berg led Baldwin with 14 points.
Iola (3-1) stay on the road next week. The Mustangs go to Parsons Tuesday then to Independence Friday before Christmas break.
Iola (6-8-15-6-35) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 0/1-0-1-3, Ashmore 2/3-1-4-14, Latta 2-0-1-4, Sigg 1-1-2-3, Taylor 0-0-2-0, Larson 1-0-3-2, Kauth 3/1-0-2-9. TOTALS: 9/5-2-15-35.
Baldwin (6-10-14-10-40) (FG/3-pt): Berg 1/3-3-0-14, Schroeder 0/1-0-2-3, Twombly 2-0-2-4, C. Brown 0/1-1-1-4, Burton 2-0-1-4, Duncan 2-0-1-4, Ca. Gaylord 3-1-0-7. TOTALS: 10/5-5-7-40.
Bulldogs thwart Mustang title bid
