Humboldt Middle School’s boys basketball team went undefeated Saturday at Iola Middle School’s tournament. The Cubs beat Iola 10-9, Pittsburg 25-23, and Independence 18-17.
Humboldt started with a great first half against Iola, holding the Mustangs to three points while Taner King and Carson Peters charged up the Cub offense by scoring eight in quick fashion.
Humboldt’s defense lapsed a bit at the start of the second half, allowing Iola to go on a 4-0 run but Thatcher Mueller silenced that run going 2-2 from the free throw line with only a few minutes left to extend the Cub lead to 10-7.
A foul in the homestretch of the game gave Iola a chance, down 10-7, but the Mustangs failed to make the three free throw shots. Humboldt’s defense locked any other chances by the Mustangs.
King led with four points. Mueller, along with Carson Peters, and Hudson Rees, had two points.
Humboldt played back-to-back, Pittsburg was up next for the Cubs.
The Cubs dug themselves a hole early, as the grind of playing two consecutive games showed in the first half. The Cubs turned the ball over and allowed the Dragons to take advantage, getting open shots and knocking them down.
Pittsburg led 15-6 at the half.
The Cubs used halftime to regroup and came out looking like a different team.
After Pittsburg opened with a few points early, the Cubs came roaring back with a 12-8 run to cut the lead to 23-18 with a minute left.
Humboldt’s Grady Elder went 2-2 from the free throw line to make the score 23-20. After a turnover by Pittsburg, Thatcher Mueller hit a jumper to put Humboldt within one.
On the next possession, Mueller stole the ball and drove across the court to put Humboldt up 24-23.
The Dragons had a chance at the free throw line with less than 10 seconds left. Pittsburg missed both shots and then fouled Humboldt’s Cyler Mason with three seconds on the clock. Mason went 1-2 to extend Humboldt’s lead. The Dragons weren’t able to get off a potential game-tying shot as the Cubs completed the comeback.
Elder led with nine points. Mueller had seven. Peters had four. Kreed Jones and Maxtyn Mueller both had two. Mason had one.
Humboldt rounded out the day against Independence after getting the next two games off.
