Iola High’s Mustangs never trailed in Tuesday’s Southeast Kansas League contest at home against Columbus High’s Titans.
The Mustangs were in control but the Titans never allowed them to put things on cruise control in the 55-40 win.
“It was a win, and you will always take that, but it was not one of our best efforts,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach. “We’ve had a tough stretch and we needed to win.”
Iola improved to 2-3 in SEK play and 9-8 overall. Columbus dropped to 0-6 and 6-12.
The Mustangs travel to Pittsburg Friday in league action.
Working inside, the Mustangs bolted to an 8-0 lead. Braden Larson, who had a game-high 18 points, had two baskets while Jerrik Sigg and Christian Kauth drove in for scores.
Columbus came right back using their inside man, Andre McLean. McLean scored two consecutive baskets. Aaron Bigando knocked down a three-pointer to get the Titans back in the game down 8-7.
But Clint Heffern answered with a trey from the top of the arc for Iola. The Mustangs got another bucket from Larson to go up 13-7.
McLean stepped out and hit three, pulling the Titans within three again. Iola pushed back out on baskets by Larson and Jarred Latta. Latta hit one of two free throws to give Iola an 18-10 lead at the conclusion of one quarter of play.
“We did a lot of little things right at times in the game. But we’re still having trouble handling success. We let teams back in games. It’s the mental aspect of the game that we’re just not tough enough yet,” Peeper said.
Peeper pointed to 17 turnovers as an example of the Mustangs’ inability to stay focused throughout four quarters.
“Our effort is good. We just have to stay focused. This was a good win and it came in the SEK.”
McLean, who had nine of his team-high 15 points in the first nine minutes of the game, downed two free throws to open the second quarter. Iola had a tip-in by Larson and two free throw from Levi Ashmore to go up 10, 22-12.
Iola went 7 of 13 from beyond the arc in the game. Four of those came in the 16-11 run of the second quarter. Ashmore drained two, then Kauth, and at the end of the period it was Heffern.
The Mustangs extended their 34-21 halftime lead on back-to-back baskets in the third quarter. Iola used a trapping half-court defense to create turnovers by the Titans and convert in easy transition scores.
