PARSONS — Iola High’s Mustangs battled back several times in Tuesday’s non-league game with Southeast Kansas League foe Parsons High’s Vikings. Iola trailed by 10 at halftime.
The Mustangs had back-to-back baskets by Braden Larson and Christian Kauth to make it a two-point game, 52-50, with two minutes left. The Vikings downed four free throws to stretch their lead back out.
Iola answered with two charities from Kauth and one from Jerrik Sigg to cut the margin to three, 56-53, at the 37.5-second mark. Parsons’ Ben Thompson missed two free throws and Iola got the rebound.
Jarred Latta’s three-pointer was off the mark. Parsons nailed down the 60-53 win with four free throws in the final 20 seconds.
“We came out and played a better second half. Parsons just shot the ball so well in the first half. We used a zone defense against them in the first half and they executed really well,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach.
“We decided to go straight man-to-man in the second half and we did a better job. Plus we hit some shots that we didn’t in the first half.”
Peeper said he was pleased that the Mustangs kept battling back. He said they put themselves in positions to win the game late.
Iola is 3-2 overall and Parsons, the SEK defending champion, is 3-0.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 6-0 lead as Levi Ashmore hit the first of his five three-pointers of the game. The Vikings rattled off 10 unanswered points and led 12-8 at the end of the period.
Ashmore drained a trey at the 5:13 mark of the second quarter. Iola’s defense held and down 18-16, the Mustangs had an chance to tie the game but were unsuccessful.
Parsons cruised to a 30-20 halftime lead using its transition game to trigger a 7-0 run. James Jackson hit a three just before the buzzer to make it a 10-point Viking advantage.
“They have the size and quickness and are hard to match up with,” Peeper said of Parsons. “That’s why they are considered the best team in the league.
“We came out and established an inside-out game in the second half. Christian responded on the inside for us.”
Kauth had two baskets early and Ashmore hit a three to make it 32-27 with six minutes left in the third period. Iola got within two, 33-31, on back-to-back baskets by Latta and Corey Taylor. Taylor gave Iola a boost at the end of the period when he skied for a putback at the buzzer.
Down 42-39 with eight minutes to play, Iola fell back 49-41 and then made a final charge.
