The Iola Mustangs put behind an ugly first quarter and rallied for a 75-66 win in Monday night’s Pioneer League match against Santa Fe Trail.
After two 20-point victories against Chanute and Osawatomie last week, the Mustangs appeared disengaged in the game’s early goings.
“We came out here the same way we came out in practice the other day, which looks like a junior high team that has never played before,” Iola head coach Luke Bycroft said. “We had no energy, defensively we weren’t moving, and it was the same on the offensive end, too. We were literally standing on both ends of the court for the entire first quarter.”
The Chargers rattled off a pair of 3-pointers, racing to a 12-4 lead in the opening minutes. Landon Carson stalled Santa Fe Trail’s momentum with a trey to bring the Mustangs within five. Iola trailed by as many as 11 in the first quarter. Going into the second, they trailed 18-11.
Iola’s offense then woke up from its first-quarter snooze. Carson connected from deep to inch the Mustangs within two, and later gave Iola the lead with a fast-break finish. Bradyn Cole’s putback to close the quarter put the Mustangs ahead 27-26 at the halftime break.
Iola’s momentum continued in the third. Cal Leonard and Carson fired back-to-back treys, Calvin Delich found the galloping Carson for the fast-break layup, and Leonard hit from deep again to cap off a 13-2 run.
The Mustangs’ lead rose to as high as 13 in the third, but the Chargers remained in striking distance, trailing 46-39 after three.
“In the third quarter we cut, and got back doors because we moved without the ball,” Bycroft said. “When we move without the ball, and move the ball, we have so many options and so many guys that can score.”
Carson scored 11 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth to secure Iola’s third consecutive victory. He opened the period with an and-one finish to put Iola up by 10, and applied the sealer with two free throws to put the Mustangs ahead by 12 in the final minutes. 
“When he decides to explode and give full effort to either end on the court, he really has the potential,” Bycroft said. “He can’t be guarded because the other team’s best defender is always going to try and guard Cal, and Landon can’t be guarded by secondary defenders.”
Carson was not the only Mustang doing his part on the scoreboard. Leonard and Bradyn Cole both finished with 14 points apiece, followed by Dillon Bycroft scoring 9. Calvin Delich and Tyler Boeken chipped in 8 and 6 points respectively.
The 75-66 win puts Iola in a prime position for Friday’s home game against Burlington. The 10-4 Mustangs sit at 4-2 in Pioneer League play, and remain a game behind Burlington. If Iola plans to keep its aspirations for a Pioneer League trophy alive, earning a win Friday would be a step in the right direction.
“We control our own destiny in the league,” Bycroft said. “We can’t lose sight of the fact that Friday night is huge. We haven’t done a whole of preparation yet, but we know what they are going to do. They are going to press, and be physical.”
Box Score
Iola (11-16-19-29—75) (pts): Bycroft 9, Leonard 14, Cole 14, Carson 24, Delich 8, Boeken 6.
Santa Fe Trail (18-8-13-24—66) Decker 28, Berckefeldt 7, Smith 14, Spoonemore 15, Baker 2.
