The Iola Mustangs came up short in their Thursday home opener but not by much.
Free throws made all the difference in the eighth-grade game, allowing the defending Pioneer League champion Burlington Wildcats to win 40-35.
A pair of consecutive buckets by Milo Franklin put Iola up 31-29 by the end of the third quarter. But Iola could not hold on as Burlington’s defense clamped down. Only Franklin and Cade Curry, who had a team-leading 12 points, were able to score throughout the rest of the game. Jaxon Mueller and Austin Campbell each had 5 points, followed by Ty…
