CHANUTE — It was only fitting that the final Southeast Kansas League basketball game between arch-rivals Iola High’s Mustangs and Chanute High’s Blue Comets go down to the wire and into overtime.
The Mustangs went into the Blue Comets’ house and snared a 52-44 overtime win Tuesday. It was not easy.
Iola and Chanute were tied 12-12 after one quarter of play. Each team held leads of no more than six points. They were knotted at 40-40 when the clock ran out in regulation.
“We expected a battle from them. It’s their place and it’s the SEK,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach. “Not much rattles our kids and they kept working hard. I really thought we had it won at the end of regulation.
“We got just what we wanted but missed twice.”
Not to worry. The Mustangs had this.
With the game still tied, 42-42, Christian Kauth, who had two quick fouls in the first quarter, scored all eight of his points in the overtime.
Kauth’s jump shot at the 2:34 mark put Iola up for good. He controlled a defensive rebound then drove to the lane and hit a scoop shot.
Chanute’s Quinton Schooley sank two free throws as Iola’s Braden Larson fouled out. Larson left the game with eight points and six rebounds.
“Braden did a good job inside against bigger kids tonight. He really battled well for positioning in there,” Peeper said.
Kauth hit two free throws then Jerrik Sigg stole the basketball with 38 seconds left. Sigg dropped in one of two free throws.
Jarred Latta made a steal for the Mustangs. Kauth stepped to the line again and was 2 for 2. Clint Heffern sank one of two with 13 seconds left and claimed the rebound off his second attempt.
That wrapped up the win.
Iola evened up its SEK mark at 1-1 and is 8-6 overall. Chanute is 0-2 and 2-12. Both teams are charter members of the SEK, established in 1927, and Iola moves to the Pioneer League next year.
The Mustangs started slow, down 5-0 then got a 12-12 tie on a buzzer-beating three by Levi Ashmore. The Mustangs moved out to a 22-18 lead and was up 25-20 at halftime.
