RICHMOND — The elements of a successful basketball season are coming together nicely for Iola High’s boys.
The Mustangs showed poise under pressure, distributed the ball fluidly and wreaked havoc at times with their defensive intensity Tuesday evening.
Good thing.
The way host Central Heights was shooting, Iola’s sterling play almost wasn’t enough.
But the Mustangs answered every call down the stretch, with several players stepping up and delivering big plays in a 62-58 win.
The victory pushes Iola to the .500 mark for the first time this season at 4-4. Iola stands at 2-0 in Pioneer League play.
“When we play like that offensively and defensively, I get excited thinking about where we’re headed,” Iola coach Bill Peeper said. “Our defensive effort was outstanding.”
Iola put the game away in the second half by repeatedly moving the ball around the perimeter until the post players could work themselves into prime scoring position.
Tyler Powelson scored twice inside to give Iola the lead for good midway through the third quarter. Mason Coons, Levi Ashmore, Trent Latta, Tyler McIntosh and Adam Kauth took turns coming up with critical baskets as Iola held a 41-35 lead at the conclusion of the quarter.
Central Heights did not go away quietly.
Jordan Horstick scored two consecutive baskets to pull the Vikings to within 43-41 early in the fourth period.
Kauth responded by scoring seven of Iola’s next 10 points over the next 2 1/2 minutes to put Iola on top 53-45.
“Adam’s baskets were huge,” Peeper said. “We’ve been in position before where we’ve found the shots we wanted, and they just wouldn’t fall. Tonight, those shots fell. We did a good job of taking shots from the 3 when they were open and taking it to the basket.”
Ashmore and Latta stepped up to snuff one final Viking rally.
The Vikings’ Trevor Barkdoll scored with 1:42 left and had the crowd on its feet with a near steal at midcourt. But Ashmore retook the ball for Iola, which led to a Latta jumper that pushed the lead to 58-51 with 1:12 remaining.
The Mustangs weathered an early Viking barrage of 3-pointers and long jump shots. Central Heights led 20-10 at the end of the first quarter.
“I just told the guys during our timeout that they weren’t going to keep falling like that,” Peeper said. “We just had to be ready for when their shots weren’t falling. We didn’t hang our heads or panic, and we were able to respond and chip away at the lead pretty quickly.”
Iola held Central Heights without a field goal over the final 4 minutes of the second quarter. Levi Ashmore’s jumper at the buzzer capped the 17-6 run to put Iola on top, 27-26, at the break.
Coons led the Mustangs with 15 points and three boards. Kauth followed with 14 points, while Ashmore had 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals. Latta scored 12 points with four assists and four steals. McIntosh had three rebounds and three assists. Powelson had six points and six rebounds.
“We need to get better at our rebounding,” Peeper said, “but I couldn’t be happier with our effort and our defensive intensity.”
Horstick scored 19 points, Zach McAfee and Trevor Burkdoll scored 10 each for the Vikings.
Iola’s junior varsity prevailed 49-45. Kaden Macha scored 13 and Shane Walden 10 for the Mustang JV. Bryan Mueller, Fryendz Wallace and Jesse Zimmerman scored six points each. Kohl Endicott, Travis Hermstein and Adam Peterson each scored 2.
Central Heights won the C-team contest 37-29.
Endicott had eight points and Colby Works seven. Brett Taylor scored four. Matt Jacobs, Peterson, Isiah Shaughnessy and Sager Patel scored two. Walden scored a point.
Iola resumes action at home Friday against Prairie View.
Iola (10-17-14-21—62)
Central Heights (20-6-9-23—58)
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Latta 4-4-3-12, Ashmore 2/3-0-1-13, Coons 4/2-1-3-15, McIntosh 1-0-1-2, Kauth 6-2-2-14, Powelson 3-0-2-6. TOTALS: 20/5-7-12-62.
Central Heights (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Davis 2-1-0-5, McAfee 4-2-3-10, Burkdoll 2/2-0-0-10, Beckwith 1/1-0-0-5, Schooler 0-0-1-0, Horstick 4/2-5-2-19, Erhart 1-0-3-2, Hendron 3-1-1-7. TOTALS: 17/5-9-10-58.
Big plays propel Mustangs
