Iola Middle School’s boys basketball teams took on Prairie View Monday night, just two days after a tough performance in their home tournament. Iola went 3-1. The B teams played half games due to a shortage of players. The seventh grade B team lost 15-4. The seventh grade A team won 24-14. The eighth grade B team won 20-13. The eighth grade A team won 28-24.
Iola struggled to score in the seventh grade B game, lacking production from the bench and fundamentals on defense. Iola went 2-8 from the free throw line. The Mustangs failed to hold the Buffalos back on defense and offense.James Hunt led the way for Iola with two points. Caden Coltrane and Kaeden Vega had one each.
Jase Herrmann dominated the seventh grade A game with double-digit points and went 6-8 from the free throw line to spur the Mustangs to victory..Iola’s defense held the Buffalos at bay, while the offense heated up. Iola rebounded very well against Prairie View, giving the Mustangs extra shots.
Iola’s Hayden Kelley looks to make a pass vs Prairie View
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
Iola’s Brennan Coffield drives the ball vs Prairie View
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
Iola’s Tre Wilson goes up for a layup vs Prairie View.
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
Iola’s Nick Bauer drives to the hoop vs Prairie View.
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
Iola’s Brock Michael holds the ball vs Prairie View.
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
Iola’s Jase Herrmann goes up to the hoop vs Prairie View.
Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register
The Mustangs looked much improved from their game on Saturday, despite a shortage of players for a variety of reasons. The Buffalos were never quite able to find their footing and let Iola run away with the game late.
Iola did a great job of limiting turnovers and taking advantage of mistakes the Buffalos made.
Herrmann led the way with 16 points. Austin Crooks and Kale Pratt both had four.
The eighth grade B game was high scoring, considering the teams only played two quarters. Iola scored in double-digits in both quarters. Jayden Beene led the way in the first quarter with six points, while Baron Folk had four in the second including going 2-2 on free throws.
Iola did a great job taking care of the ball and shooting free throws, going 3-4 from the line and capitalized on fouls.
The Mustangs looked the best they have all season, rebounding well and taking advantage of second chances.
Beene led the way with 10 points. Folk ended with nine. Gannon Hutton and Isaac Velazquez each had two.The closest game of the night was the eighth grade A game. The Mustangs held on to win despite a late surge from Prairie View. Noah Schowendgerdt’s big game propelled the Mustangs to their third win of the night.
Iola led 14-12 at the half after a surge late in the second. The Iola defense played exceptionally and was much improved from Saturday’s outing.
A nine-point third quarter helped Iola withstand the late stampede from the Buffalos but the real game sealer was the Iola defense holding Prairie View to only five points in the third to help extend the Mustang lead in the waning moments of the game.
