Iola Middle School’s boys were swept by visiting Independence Middle School Monday.
In the eighth-grade A-team game, Independence rallied from a 9-0 first-quarter deficit to win 36-27. Iola led 18-15 at halftime but only scored nine points in the second half.
“We let their press get to us because we attacked it with lazy passes,” said Marty Taylor, Iola head coach. “We have to be more aggressive.”
John Whitworth scored eight points and Adam Kauth had seven points. Tyler McIntosh had five points and Bryan Mueller had three points. Tyler Powelson scored four points and had five rebounds.
The Iola B-team lost 26-23. Jesse Zimmerman fired in 11 points for the Ponies. Jacob Cooper and Derrick Weir each had four points. Fryendz Wallace and Paul Tedder had two points each.
In seventh-grade play, Independence defeated the Iola A-team 34-19. Independence led 20-9 at halftime.
“We just aren’t a very tough team right now but that’s my fault, not the kids’,” Taylor said. “We’ll get back to work in practice and get better.”
Drew Faulhaber paced the seventh-grade A-team with seven points followed by Alex Bauer with six. Kaden Macha had four points and six rebounds. Isaiah Grover had two points.
Independence beat the Iola seventh-grade B-team 17-6. Travis Hermstein scored four points and Matt Jacobs had two points.
Iola’s eighth-grade A-team is 5-2 going into Saturday’s Winter Classic at Parsons.
The Iola seventh-grade A-team is 5-4.
Iola’s eighth-grade and seventh-grade teams will go to Parsons next Monday. The Pony teams go to Columbus Feb. 9.
Ponies lose four games to Indy
