FORT SCOTT — In close games, little things matter.
Iola High’s Mustangs gave up a three-point play then turned the ball over in the first minute of the fourth quarter Tuesday. That was enough for host Fort Scott High’s Tigers to take complete control.
The Tigers led by seven after three quarters. They outscored Iola 20-6 in the last eight minutes of play for a 46-25 win.
“We did a lot of good things in the game. We’re getting better as a team but all of that is overshadowed by our inability to score points,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach.
“I feel we’re so close. We’re playing good defense and we’re rebounding better.”
Iola fell to 1-11 on the season. The Mustangs step into Southeast Kansas League play Friday at Coffeyville.
When Braden Larson made the first basket of the game for Iola at the 5:04 mark of the first quarter, Iola trailed by just one point. Jerrik Sigg hit one of two free throws to tie it at 3-3.
Clint Heffern drilled a three-pointer — the only one of the game by either team — to put Iola up 6-3. The Mustangs led 6-5 at the
end of the first period.
Larson scored to open the second quarter. Iola saw its three-point lead disappear as Fort Scott went on a 10-0 run.
Corey Taylor came off the Iola bench to connect at the 4:09 mark to spark the Mustangs. Heffern stole the basketball and had a layup.
Christian Kauth’s basket got the Mustangs to within one, 15-14, with three minutes left in the half. Fort Scott held an 18-16 lead at intermission.
“We were in a good position at halftime. And even just scoring three points in the third, we were just down seven going into the fourth quarter,” Peeper said.
“We’re just so far away offensively that we can’t stick in games. With our team scoring average, we can’t expect to keep other teams in the 30s. We have to find a way to increase our scoring production.”
Larson scored eight points — Iola’s high-point man. Heffern and Charles Apt each had five points.
The Mustangs were 6 of 10 at the free-throw line. The Tigers sank 14 of 24 attempts from the line.
Fort Scott (7-5) was led by Cameron Woodring with 14 points.
Fort Scott made a sweep of the games Tuesday. The Tigers won the junior varsity contest 59-41. Iola got nine points from Trent Latta, eight from Devon Conner and seven from Adam Kauth.
In the freshman game, Fort Scott won 49-44. Adam Kauth fired in 20 points and Trent Latta had 15.
Iola (6-10-3-6—25) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 1/1-0-3-5, Coons 0-0-1-0, J. Latta 1-0-0-2, Sigg 0-3-3-3, Taylor 1-0-4-2, Larson 3-2-2-8, C. Kauth 1-1-2-3, Apt 1-0-4-5. TOTALS: 8/1-6-20-25.
Fort Scott (5-13-8-20—46): Stark 1-4-3-6, Quick 1-0-1-2, Adams 1-0-1-2, Thorpe 0-2-1-2, Wright 2-2-2-6, Woodring 5-4-0-14, Knopp 2-2-4-6, Harper 2-0-1-4, Durbin 2-0-2-4. TOTALS: 16-14-15-46.
Mustangs hang with Tigers until fourth quarter run
