Columbus Middle School’s Titans were undefeated in both seventh and eighth-grade A-team play. That is until the Titans came to Iola Monday.
Iola Middle School’s Ponies dished out a couple of losses to the Titans.
Iola’s seventh-grade set the tone of the four-game marathon. The Ponies held on to win the B-team game 13-12 led by Matt Jacobs’ eight points.
Adam Peterson and Drake Dieker each had two points. Brock Peters added one.
Then came the seventh-grade A-team contest. Iola had a 19-10 halftime lead and outscored Columbus 5-0 in the third period.
The Titans made a run at the Ponies down the stretch. Columbus poured in 16 points in the final period but Iola countered with 13 points and posted a 37-26 win.
“This was by far our best all around effort,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head basketball coach. “We need to take care of the ball a little better and hit our free throws (11 of 21) but the boys are working hard and getting better.”
Kaden Macha paced the Ponies with 11 points and Isaiah Grover added eight. Drew Faulhaber had seven points and nine rebounds.
Alex Bauer scored six points. Shane Walden had five points, seven rebounds and three assists.
“Kaden played defense on their (Columbus) best player all night and did a great job. Drew’s energy was good tonight. He did a great job of going to the boards,” Taylor said.
The lone Columbus win came in the eighth-grade B-team game. Columbus won 29-14.
Scoring four points each for Iola were Jesse Zimmerman, Michael Wilson and Austin Snyder. Levi Baker added two points.
Wrapping things up at the middle school, the Iola eighth-grade A-team established control early. The Ponies led 27-13 by halftime and were in front 37-22 after three quarters.
Columbus came out strong in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points. But the Titans weren’t able to stop the Ponies, who tossed in 16 points, to win 53-39.
“Just a solid team effort. We attacked the basket and got good shots,” Taylor said.
Adam Kauth fired in 13 points, had four rebounds and two assists for the Ponies. Trent Latta had 11 points and two assists and Tyler McIntosh scored 11 points.
Tyler Powelson patrolled the inside for Iola with eight points and nine rebounds. John Whitworth had six points and four assists. Bryan Mueller had four points.
“Tyler Powelson was outstanding inside. Trent did a good job of handling the basketball and getting it where it needed to go.”
Iola was to have hosted Burlington Thursday but those games have been canceled. Burlington has other games scheduled.
The IMS teams will have a jamboree Thursday after school.
The IMS squads travel to Garnett to play Anderson County Junior High Monday.
Pony teams post victories
