RICHMOND — Iola High School’s boys’ basketball team kept it close early but faded against Lebo High School Thursday night, losing 49-45.
IHS stormed out of the gates in the first quarter, establishing a 6-0 lead over the first 1:45. They rebounded great and took advantage of good shot selection to set up their shooters.
Lebo started to heat up toward the end of the quarter and started to take advantage of rebounds on the defensive end, converting those into points to shrink Iola’s lead. IHS’ Landon Weide made a great play toward the end of the quarter, stealing the ball and driving down the lane for a layup. IHS led 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
IHS’ Tyler Boeken used his size on both ends to help drive in the paint and get rebounds. IHS’ Eli Adams used his quickness to complete good shots.
Lebo came roaring back toward the end of the second quarter, taking advantage of a three-point play after making a jumper and picking up the foul to take a 23-22 lead. IHS roared back with a minute left in the half when Boeken made a jumper to regain the lead. IHS led at the half 25-24.
The two teams opened the second half trading the lead until Lebo went on a 10-2 run in the middle of the third to take a 37-29 lead. Lebo got good rebounds and took advantage of mistakes by IHS, while the Mustangs were unable to get second-chance shots. IHS’ Weide hit a mid-range jumper with 1:35 left to spark a 7-2 run for the Mustangs that would last until the end of the third quarter. Lebo led 42-36.
The fourth quarter started great for IHS. Cortland Carson hit a jumper after stealing the ball and Boeken got a clutch rebound and the putback to close the Lebo lead to 42-40. Shortly after, IHS’ Cooper Riley hit a three-pointer to put IHS up 43-42, just 4:00 from its first win of the season.
It all unraveled when Lebo’s Kyle Reese got a bucket in transition with 2:45 left to open the Lebo lead to 46-43. A minute later, IHS fouled Lebo’s Zach Oswald. Oswald made both free throws to extend the lead to 48-43, giving Lebo a two-possession lead. IHS tried to mount a comeback when Boeken got a bucket in the paint to cut the lead to three, but it was too little, too late for the Mustangs.
“We started with good intensity. I told the boys ahead of time we would have to be focused,” said IHS head coach Luke Bycroft.
“We came out early and were ready but as soon as we built a lead we relaxed and let them back in the game. Lebo is a small school, is the type of team that is used to winning. They don’t give up when they get down early. They responded and we didn’t respond. We let them build a 10-point lead before we responded.”
Iola (15-1-11-9—45) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Weide 3-1-4-7 Adams 2-1-2-5 Fager 3-2-3-8 Carson 2-0-2-5 Boeken 8-0-4-16 Riley 2-0-4-4 Totals: 19/1-4-18-45
Lebo (12-12-18-7—49) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Grimmett 6-1-2-17 Whalen 1-1-3-3 C.Reese 1-1-0-3 K.Reese 4-0-3-8 Konrade 1-0-0-2 Shoemaker 2-0-1-4 Bailey 2-1-0-3 Oswald 2-5-0-9 Totals: 14/4-9-9-49
