Iola High’s boys got an early lead against Burlington Friday but ended up losing to the Wildcats, 58-36.
Iola went on a 4-0 run to start the game but Burlington tied the game midway through the first quarter. A three by Landon Weide put the Mustangs up 7-4, but that would mark Iola’s final lead.
Burlington took control with a 19-4 run over the first and second quarters.
Iola’s drought ended when Sam Fager hit a short jumper. By then, the Wildcats led 23-11.
Turnovers were key as Burlington extended its lead to 20 in the second half.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats hit 9-10 from the line to keep things in control, while Iola took only six free throws all game, with Tyler Boeken going 3-4 from the line.
“It was a physical game tonight,” said Iola coach Luke Bycroft. “We shot six free throws all game. We shot the ball in the paint, but it doesn’t do any good to talk about officiating. We can’t use it as an excuse, but it’s tough for the boys. We have to take care of the ball and rebound. There were balls we didn’t box out and go get. It’s the same things hurting us.”
Boeken led the Mustangs with 13 points. Cortland Carson and Fager chipped in with eight each.
Iola’s junior varsity lost 45-27. Mac Leonard led the way with 10 points. Gage Skahan had four. Travis Wanker and Japheth Rutoh had four. Casey Rowe and Cody Wille had two. Carson had one.
The freshman team got a 48-41 win, led by 16 points from Lucas Maier. Grady Dougherty had 11. Ben Kerr had six. Kyser Nemecek had four. Kaiden Rutherford and Alex Donnelly had two. Cole Moyer had one.
