Third-ranked Wildcats run away from Mustangs in semifinal game
BURLINGTON — Iola High’s Mustangs are chalking up Friday’s semifinal game up to experience and moving on.
For one quarter, the Mustangs hung in there with the third-ranked Topeka Hayden High’s Wildcats. They trailed 19-11 after eight minutes of play.
They ended up losing 75-29 in the 2010 Burlington High Invitational semifinals. Hayden is the three-time defending champion of the tournament and face Rossville, a 67-46 winner over Santa Fe Trail Friday, in today’s title game.
Iola turns its attention to notching its highest finish in five years of contention in the Burlington tournament. The Mustangs finished fifth in 2007.
The Mustangs (4-5) take on Santa Fe Trail High’s Chargers (6-3) at 1:35 this afternoon. The game is in Burlington High’s gym.
On the consolation side of the bracket Friday, Sabetha edged Paola 47-46 and Labette County got past Burlington 63-57. Sabetha and Labette County play for fifth and Paola takes on Burlington for seventh.
“The first quarter wasn’t too bad. We had some defensive breakdowns but down by eight wasn’t bad,” said Steve Taylor, Mustang head coach.
“After that we lost any momentum we had. Nothing would fall for us at the offensive end and we couldn’t stop them.”
Iola suffered through a 25-1 second quarter. Kent Toland hit a free throw with 1:53 left in the period for Iola.
The Mustangs were down 44-12 at halftime.
“But we came out with a little more energy and intensity in the third quarter. We did some nice things in that quarter,” Taylor said.
Iola matched Hayden point-for-point, 17-17, in the third quarter. Toland had the opening basket and two minutes later Seth Walden hit a three-pointer.
Toland and Michael Middleton had back-to-back threes midway through the period. But Iola still trailed 61-29 going into the fourth period, triggering a running clock situation.
The Mustangs didn’t score any more points while the Wildcats poured in 14.
Iola shot 28.5 percent, 10 o 35, from the field and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. The Mustangs had six three-pointers in the game.
Toland and Seth Walden each had eight points. Seth Walden had four rebounds. Iola committed 20 turnovers.
