BURLINGTON — Iola High’s Mustangs weren’t able to sustain their momentum from winning their first game Friday. The Mustangs dropped a 48-26 decision to Paola High’s Panthers in Saturday’s fifth-place game of the 2011 Burlington High Invitational.
“We appeared to be a step behind and a second too slow throughout the game today,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach. “We didn’t respond physically playing two nights in a row.”
The Panthers dominated things early inside with 6-6 Nick Wilson and 6-3 Travis Hayes. The big guys pushed Paola to an 11-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. By the 1:10 mark of the second quarter, the Panthers were ahead 23-7.
Charles Apt scored for Iola with 53.7 seconds left in the first half. Jerrik Sigg hit a long three-pointer at the halftime-buzzer. The Mustangs trailed 25-12 at intermission.
Brandon Goodman opened the third quarter with a three-pointer for the Panthers. Clint Heffern responded with a basket and a trey for Iola. The deficit was 11 points, 28-17.
Then Goodman and Conner Kresin drilled back-to-back threes and a minute later Wilson stepped out and netted one from long range. The Panthers built a 40-21 advantage going into the final period.
“We did not have the intensity to challenge them tonight,” Peeper said.
Iola did not have a player score in double figures. Apt had six points and three rebounds and Heffern had five points. Corey Taylor grabbed five rebounds and Jarred Latta had five rebounds.
Iola was 10 of 14 from the free-throw line and Paola was 8 of 10 at the line.
Hayes dropped in 18 points and Wilson had 13 points. Goodman had 10 points.
The Mustangs fell to 1-10 on the season. They go to Fort Scott Tuesday for a make-up of a non-league game postponed from Jan. 11. Iola tips off Southeast Kansas League play Friday at Coffeyville.
Iola (4-8-9-5—26) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 1/1-0-1-5, Ashmore 0-1-1-1, Conner 1-0-0-2, Latta 0-2-0-2, Sigg 0/1-0-2-3, Taylor 0-0-1-0, Clubine 0-0-1-0, Larson 1-2-4-4, Kauth 0-3-0-3, Apt 2-2-1-6. TOTALS: 5/2-10-11-26.
Paola (11-14-15-8—48) (FG/3-pt): Dunmars 1-0-2-2, Goodman 1/2-2-1-10, Kresin 0/1-0-1-3, Hayes 7-4-1-18, Wilson 4/1-2-2-13, Debrick 1-0-3-2. TOTALS: 14/4-8-10-48.
Mustangs come up short, end up sixth
