Too many turnovers and bad rebounding. That’s what Iola High boys basketball team’s head coach Luke Bycroft believes got the best of his team in a 61-54 blunder to Anderson County in their season opener on Friday evening.
The Mustang girls also fell to the Bulldogs, 52-32. Turnovers and an inability to find good shots frustrated the girls who are still gelling as a team.
Girl’s Basketball
Aysha Houk’s solid basketball IQ was instrumental in leading the Mustang offense.
“Aysha has definitely stepped up into that role, she’s our senior on the team so she knows she has the most experience on the varsity level,” said Iola head coach Kelsey Johnson. “She’s one of our returning starters. She has definitely taken leadership in practice and tonight.”
Anderson County relied on Kylie Disbrow as she scored five first half baskets and notched 20 points total. Addie Fudge also helped launch the Bulldogs, hitting a couple first half three-pointers and added 13 points total.
Reese Curry helped the Mustangs keep the game within striking distance with some points inside the perimeter in the first half and again in the fourth quarter. The senior finished with 10 points while mainly scoring underneath the basket.
“We definitely need to make sure we are setting the pace for our offense and not letting ourselves get rushed into it,” said Johnson. “Making sure we can develop our plays so that we find those quality shots.”
Houk led the scoring charge with her 11 points while Karrington Hall also created a few successful shots and came up with five points.
Boy’s Basketball
The Mustangs kept it close throughout game including when Landon Weide went in for a couple of treys and a trio of two-pointers in the third quarter. Eli Adams also made a difference in the second half with his hot hands, hitting a few threes to keep his team in striking distance.
“He’s (Weide) one of the smartest players,” said Iola head coach Luke Bycroft. “He’s also one of the hardest working players and that’s why he has gotten himself to the point where he can get some tough shots, attack at the right time and finish from all different angles. He has a good understanding of what needs to happen and when it needs to happen.”
Hats off to Anderson County and their size as big man Garrison Martin scored 20 points underneath the basket, part of a 22-point performance for Martin. It was a physical game and a tussle for the ball all night long.
Weide began by going in for a trio of two-point buckets in the first quarter for the main Iola scoring spark. Mac Leonard also made an impact by going underneath for a two-pointer and a pair of free throws. 
“They were big and physical and we didn’t rebound well,” Bycroft said. “Our three goals were to take care of the ball, we struggled at that; to box out and rebound, we struggled at that; and to take great shots. In the first half we struggled with that but in the second half we took a lot better shots.”
