COLUMBUS — Iola Middle School’s seventh-grade A-team played its worst half of basketball of the season followed by its best half.
The best half was enough to overcome the worst Tuesday to beat host Columbus 28-23. Columbus led 16-7 at halftime.
“We played much tougher and more aggressive coming out of halftime,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head coach.
Kaden Macha scored nine points for Iola. Shane Walden added seven. Alex Bauer scored five points and had 10 rebounds. Isaiah Grover had five points and Drew Faulhaber scored two.
The Pony eighth-grade A-team wasn’t as fortunate. It trailed 17-8 at halftime and couldn’t catch up in losing 36-22.
Trent Latta scored six points for Iola. Adam Kauth and Tyler Powelson each had four points. Powelson had six rebounds. Bryan Mueller and Tyler McIntosh each had three points and John Whitworth had two points.
Columbus won the eighth-grade B-team game 31-15. Jesse Zimmerman and Dylan Bryan had four points each.
Scoring two points each were Derrick Weir, Fryendz Wallace and Trey Wilson. Austin Snyder had one point.
Iola won the seventh-grade B-team game 23-14. Drake Dieker tossed in 12 points. Brock Peters had four points and Matt Jacobs had three. Travis Hermstein and Adam Peterson each had two points.
Iola goes to Coffeyville Thursday.
IMS seventh-grade boys win, eighth grade loses
