The Iola High boys basketball team had a statement to make on Friday and they made it with a resounding 57-29 thumping of Central Heights.
The Mustangs dropped a game earlier this season to the Vikings and were out to prove to a near-capacity Winter Homecoming crowd that the earlier game was a fluke.
“It was a big boost to morale,” Mustang junior Isaiah Fawson said. “Playing this team at Homecoming and winning after we lost to them previously, it really got us going.”
The Mustangs quickly established sophomore forward Ethan Holloway and let their young standout go to work.
“Throughout the season, he has gone from good to great,” Fawson said. “He played better than I think I’ve seen him play all season.”
The 6-6 Holloway was matched up with one of the rare players he has to look up to with Viking 6-8 sophomore Coyd Gardner, but Holloway used his skill and quickness to score a game-high 16 points including nine in the game’s opening quarter.
“He is making himself big,” Iola head coach Jay Applegate said. “Earlier in the season he made himself small. It is not hard to guard a small guy. It is a lot harder to guard a big guy.”
The Mustangs took a 17-3 lead into the second quarter and from there controlled the game using their ball pressure to take the Vikings out of any rhythm they could muster.
“Our defense was what won us the game,” Fawson said.
According to Fawson, it was key for the team to show that once they had a lead they could keep building on it.
“We were trying to bury them,” Fawson said. “We were trying to get the running clock and finish the game out strong.”
Fawson finished 12 points while his backcourt partner Ben Cooper had 8.
The Mustangs are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Prairie View.
“I don’t want this to be fool’s gold,” Applegate said. “I don’t want us to get the big head. We have a lot of improvement to do.
“I told the kids, there is only one bad thing about playing good and that is that it is expected of you now.”
Matt Percy, son of Iola High baseball coach Mark Percy, led the Vikings with 11.
