Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade A-team was playing right with Independence for the first half here Monday. After two quarters, the Ponies were down by just two.
But a basketball game has two halves — four quarters. Independence took its 18-16 halftime lead and built it to 29-17 advantage at the end of the third period. Independence notched a 39-23 win.
“We played good basketball for 12 minutes but came out of the locker room and never got into the flow,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head coach. “We just weren’t very tough in the second half.”
Kaden Macha tossed in eight points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Ponies. Isaiah Grover scored eight points. Drew Faulhaber had four points and five rebounds. Shane Walden scored three points and pulled down four rebounds.
The lone win of the night for Iola came in the eighth-grade B-team contest. The Ponies beat Independence 19-9.
Adam Peterson led the way with five points. Scoring four points each were Tyler Holloway, Brock Peters and Matt Jacobs. Travis Hermstein had two points.
Iola’s seventh-grade A-team got out to a 5-0 lead then it was tied 9-9 at halftime. Independence outscored Iola 5-3 in the third quarter and 8-5 in the fourth for a 22-17 win.
“By far our best effort of the season. If these boys keep improving and working like they have been they’re going to be all right,” Taylor said.
Colby Works fired in six points. Brice Aiello pulled down 10 rebounds and scored four points. Brett Taylor had three points.
Ethan Sigg claimed eight rebounds and scored two points. Keanan Badders had two points and five rebounds.
Independence beat Iola 29-16 in the seventh-grade B-team game. Gus Hopkins and Trevor Cox each had four points. Isiah Shaughnessy and Mason Key had three points apiece and Sager Patel scored two points.
Iola hosts Burlington Thursday starting at 3:30 p.m. at the IMS gym.
Ponies lose three to Indy
