GIRARD — A strong start by Girard High was too much for the Iola High Mustangs to overcome in a 60-44 defeat Friday night.
“We don’t ever accept losing, that’s not apart of our nature or something we will do,” coach Bill Peeper said. “In this case, I think there’s a lot of things to be encouraged about.”
Peeper noted Friday marked the first time that many players have seen the varsity action. Brett Taylor had never played varsity, Shane Walden and Alex Bauer were both out last season for medical reasons and this was sophomore Ben Cooper’s first start.
“Everyone gave a really great effort and I think that certainly is something to be excited about,” Peeper said.
The game started off on a 6-0 run by Girard. Iola’s first point came from a putback basket by Alex Bauer with 5:15 left in the half. Iola’s Travis Hermstein ended a Girard four-point run, with a 3-pointer with 3:05 left in the quarter. Girard added three more points and led 13-5.
Iola started the second quarter with a quick two points from Brice Aiello. He added two more points on Iola’s next possession from the free throw line. Iola trailed 16-9 with 6:50 left in the second.
That was close as it got. Girard went on another scoring run, taking a 15-point lead at 25-10 with 3:10 left in the half.
Iola’s Ben Cooper hit an open 3-pointer on a nice dish from Adam Peterson to pull the score to 26-14. After a Girard 3-pointer, Iola’s Kaden Macha and Taylor each scored two points from the free throw line on consecutive possessions.
Iola ended the half on a six-point run. Macha’s overhead, half-court pass to Aiello for an easy lay-in ended the half as time expired. The Trojans led 29-20.
The second half didn’t go as well. Cooper started things off with an assist to Peterson down low.
Girard answered with a 3-pointer to take a 32-22 lead. Iola’s Peterson then hit two free throws, the last points for Iola for more than six minutes.
Girard’s 13-point run gave the Trojans a 47-24 advantage. The Mustangs ended the drought with two free throws from Walden.
The Trojans kept things rolling into the fourth quarter. Iola’s Macha and Cooper each hit a 3-pointer, but came too far apart..
“I don’t feel like the gap between us and them is insurmountable by any means,” Peeper said. “They’re a team we will hope to see again at the end of the season, in the playoffs. I fully expect us to be a better team at that point.”
Macha led the Mustangs with 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Brett Taylor led the team with eight rebounds, while scoring three points — all from the free throw line. Brice Aiello scored six points and had three rebounds. Hermstein and Cooper each had five points. Bauer and Walden each had two points.
Iola (0-1) squares off with Chanute at Anderson County’s Invitational at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Trojans get early jump in win over Iola
