Sometimes the little things that don’t show on the stat sheet matter as much to a coach as what’s on the scoreboard.
Take Friday’s hard-fought 55-51 victory for Iola High’s Mustangs, who fended off a spirited challenge from visiting Humboldt.
While Iola wound up with the winning hand, IHS head coach Luke Bycroft was anything but pleased.
‘We got outworked tonight,” Bycroft said. “We weren’t mentally ready. We didn’t stop the ball at all. They were more prepared to play tonight.”
Conversely, Humboldt head coach David Taylor saw plenty to like with his scrappy Cub squad against a bigger, deeper opponent.
“We had great effort,” Taylor said. “We made some plays when we needed to. That was a hard-fought game by both teams.”
The decisive measures came down the stretch, as Humboldt’s offensive output began to sputter, and the Mustangs made just enough plays to keep their lead.
The Mustangs took the lead for good late in the third quarter from Cooper Riley’s traditional 3-point play, a field goal plus a free throw, to break a 35-35 tie.
Iola led, 38-37, after three quarters, when Tyler Boeken scored on a putback to open the final frame. Drew Wilhite hit 1 of 2 free throws before Boeken again got loose inside for a 42-38 lead.
Humboldt’s Kaiden Barnett scored, leading to Dillon Bycroft’s bucket with 5:25 left on the clock.
Wilhite again went 1-of-2 from the line, followed by Landon Carson’s second 3-pointer of the night. Suddenly, the Mustangs — who hadn’t led by more than three points up to then — had a six-point cushion, 47-41, with 4:15 left.
Boeken converted another putback with 3:40 left, and Jack Adams went 1 of 2 from the line for a 50-42 lead.
Humboldt had one last arrow in its quiver. Wilhite connected on a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left, cutting the gap to 54-41.
Adams hit the first of two charities for the 55-51 lead.
Wilhite’s subsequent 3-pointer try in the waning seconds came up just short. Boeken, who finished with 17 boards on the night, corralled the rebound to cinch the win.
A quick start by the Cubs put Iola behind the 8-ball early.
