The Iola High boys came out in the first quarter Thursday with the intensity they displayed in the final minutes of a stirring comeback win over Crest two nights earlier.
The Mustangs (6-5; 1-2) controlled the pace from tip-off and received a lights-out shooting performance from Mac Leonard, who scored 21 points in a 42-28 win over Humboldt (9-1). The win put Iola into Friday evening’s War on 54 Tournament championship game against Cherryvale. (Editor’s note: Friday’s game was not complete by press time. See www.iolaregister.com for results.)
“The effort was there. It makes a huge difference when we play with that type of effort, that type of urgency, desperation,” said Iola head coach Luke Bycroft. “We were focused on that one possession and we kept doing it and we came out with that intensity.”
Leonard began his scoring early for Iola as he banked in a couple of layups and a three on the way to eight first-quarter points.
The Mustang defense was fast and physical as they didn’t allow Humboldt to score more than 13 points in a quarter.
The Cubs went for eight points in the first, Leonard’s total alone in the quarter. Colden Cook and Trey Sommer led the Humboldt scoring with a pair of two-point baskets in the first.
Iola was outscored in the second quarter, 13-12, the only quarter they were outscored all night. Leonard tacked on another three as well as a two-pointer and Cortland Carson also got involved offensively with a pair of layups. Iola led Humboldt by eight heading to halftime.
“He (Leonard) can really stroke it,” Bycroft said. “He can really shoot the ball but even more important than that is when he attacks aggressively to the rim at the right times. He did that tonight, too. If he can keep adding the explosiveness to the rim, he’s an outstanding player. He keeps adding the defensive and rebounding side as well.”
Sam Hull led Humboldt offensively in the second quarter when he scored four points, including slamming home a dunk which fired up the crowd in the orange and black. Cook added another two point basket but Iola led Humboldt at halftime, 29-21.
Leonard kept his hot hand through halftime and into the second half when he nailed another three and a layup while Landon Weide and Carson also scored two-point baskets in the third. Leonard hit another three to help Iola lead by 15 most of the second half.
The Mustangs held Humboldt to only five points in the fourth, including a two-pointer from Sommer and a pair of free throws from Cook.
Carson added to Iola’s cause with eight points, while Weide and Hurst each scored five. Humboldt was led offensively by Sommer and Cook’s eight points apiece. Hull scored four.
Humboldt wrapped up tournament action Friday against Anderson County in the third-place game.
