RICHMOND — Mustang coach Jay Applegate wanted to test his veteran-laden team early and see what they were capable of.
“I’d rather play a tough schedule than an easy one, by far,” Applegate said. “This gives us something to learn from.”
That early season gauntlet continued on Thursday night with a match-up against Kansas City Christian, the No. 4 team in Class 2A according to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association rankings. The game resulted in the Mustangs’ first loss of the season, 58-52.
“They are a very good team,” Applegate said. “They are as good of team as we have played this year and maybe as good of team as we will play all year. Their 1-7 guys are just very athletic.”
Iola senior Ben Cooper got his team off to a good start early with nine points to build a 13-8 lead in the first quarter.
The period ended with a Zach Cokely basket to give the Mustangs a 15-11 advantage.
The margin grew with a second quarter, six-point Iola spurt.
Isaac Vink intercepted a pass in the Christian backcourt and sprinted for a lay-up on the other end.
Cooper followed that play with a pair of free throws and Isaiah Fawson’s basket made it 21-11 early in the quarter.
It appeared as though the Mustangs might be able to run away with a victory.
“Our first half was very intense and workman-like,” Applegate said.
Christian isn’t such a highly ranked team by accident, though, and went on a 10-4 run cut the lead to four.
A late basket by Christian’s Sam Coleman cut the lead to 32-29 at halftime.
Christian opened the second half with four-straight baskets to build a 37-32 advantage.
“We came out to start the second half and just laid an egg,” Applegate said. “That turned the tide, and we never really picked back up after that.”
Cooper answered with a 3-pointer and Vink and Evan Sigg each had baskets to push Iola back in front at 39-37.
