LA CYGNE The Iola Mustangs rebounded from Tuesdays loss against Burlington with a resounding 65-45 win against Prairie View.
After what head coach Luke Bycorft described as a sloppy performance on Tuesday, he was pleased to see the Mustangs dictate the pace against the Buffalos.
It was a different pace of game tonight, Bycroft said. Obviously the pressure wasnt there like the other night, but zone defenses sometimes give us trouble. And when they went to a zone we were stagnant a little bit early. But overall we did a good job of attacking the zone, moving the ball, and attacking the gaps through penetration.
While 10 players roamed the court, only one was needed from each side in the first period. Landon Carson scored often and early for the Mustangs. Nine of Iolas 11 first-quarter points came courtesy of the junior guard.
While Carson soared for Iola, Prairie Views Brock Heide scored 11 points in the first to hand the Buffalos a 13-11 lead.
In the second quarter is when Iola found its offensive groove. After Dillon Bycrofts jumper tied things at 13-13, Calvin Delich put the Mustangs ahead with two free throws. Two more Iola buckets led to a Prairie View timeout, but the Mustangs continued to pour it on.
Iola outscored the Buffalos 20-4 in the second quarter. A flourishing offense combined with a stout defense took the Mustangs into the break ahead 31-17.
We had a lot more energy defensively, Bycroft said. In the first quarter we just had no energy. We started out in a little bit of zone, but were very flat, and not challenging anything. We went to man late in the first, and really picked it up in the second quarter.
The Mustangs continued to add to their 14-point lead to start the second half. Cal Leonard had it going from beyond the arc, connecting on three 3-pointers in the third period. Leonard finished as Iolas leading scorer with 21.The Mustangs grew their lead to 20 in the third, and entered the final period leading 54-39.
In the fourth, Delich added six points to finish as Iolas second leading scorer with 15. It was the point guards first game in double figures as the Mustangs finished off Prairie View 65-45.
He was taking a lot of the shots he already has, but he was a lot more aggressive in transition getting to the rim, Bycroft said. Sometimes in transition he wants to give it up, but tonight he was getting to the rim and finishing shots.
The win puts Iola in a good spot heading into Christmas break at 2-1 in the league. Bycrofts point of emphasis during the break is for his team to stay active, and be ready for when they return.
BOX SCORE
Iola (11-20-23-11 65) (pts): Bycroft 6, Leonard 21, Cole 6, Carson 11, Delich 15, Boeken 4.
