Cortland Carson’s baseline jumper with 25 seconds left propelled Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade basketball team to a 21-19 victory over visiting Santa Fe Trail Thursday.
Carson’s tie-breaking shot capped a memorable second half, in which he scored 12 of Iola’s 14 points after intermission; and he had an assist on the other two points, when he found Cole Mathes inside for a bucket late in the fourth quarter.
Santa Fe Trail didn’t go away easily.
The Chargers stole an inbound pass with about 5 seconds left, and a 3-point try at the buzzer was on target, but a shade too long.
Neither team did much offensively before the break.
Iola led 2-1 after one quarter and 7-4 at the break. Carson’s shots began falling after halftime. He pushed Iola to a 15-11 lead after three before SFT rallied.
Jordan Kaufman, Mathesand Lucas Maier each had two points for the Mustangs in the victory.
SANTA FE Trail prevailed in the seventh-grade A game, 35-21.
The Chargers led 12-4 after one quarter and 21-10 at the break. The margin grew to 31-17 after three quarters.
Noah Schowengerdt scored all of his eight points in the first half to lead the Mustangs. Easton Weseloh chipped in with five. Scoring two apiece were Nick Bauer, Brennen Coffield, Braden Stevens and Hayden Kelley.
THE MUSTANG B teams were both victorious.
The eighth-graders limited Santa Fe Trail to three field goals in a 21-9 victory.
Iola held the Chargers scoreless in the first quarter and led 4-0. The score stood at 9-2 at halftime and 15-4 after three. Cherryvale hit two of its three field goals in the fourth quarter but Iola’s Keith Gomez hit a field goal and two free throws, while Trevor Tatman drilled a 3-pointer of his own to keep the Mustangs well in front.
Gomez led the charge with 10 points. Tatman and Roper Curry both scored five. Logan Yocham added two.
The seventh-grade B team prevailed, 15-12.
