BURLINGTON — A quick turnaround from a disappointing loss was just what the doctor ordered for Iola High’s Mustangs Saturday.
It didn’t come right away.
Coming off a three-point loss to Santa Fe Trail the night before, Iola still had some cobwebs to shake loose against Rossville in the seventh-place game at the Burlington Midseason Tournament.
Enter senior Adam Kauth, who scored five points down the stretch with a key steal in Iola’s 59-50 victory.
Kauth’s biggest play, however, may have been one that did not show up on the stat sheet.
Kaden Macha’s free throw attempt with 1:44 left on the clock and Iola up by four bounced into the hands of a Rossville defender. Kauth, just behind, managed to grab hold of the ball, forcing officials to call a tie-up.
Iola kept possession, which led to Kauth’s 3-point play 11 seconds later. His subsequent free throw put Iola on top, 50-43.
Layups by Tyler Powelson and Kauth in the final minute sealed the win.
“It was definitely good for us to get back on the winning side,” Iola head coach Bill Peeper said. “We’re still making things a lot tougher on us than we should be.”
The Mustangs were held scoreless for a 5-minute stretch in the first quarter as Rossville forged ahead 10-4.
Tyler Powelson came off the bench to spearhead the Mustang comeback, scoring eight. Trent Latta’s 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave Iola the lead, 18-17.
Rossville never led again, although the game stayed close through the third and fourth quarters.
Jesse Zimmerman scored five quick points to give the Mustangs a quick boost in the second half. McIntosh’s bucket midway through the quarter put Iola up, 30-22.
The lead stood at 36-30 after three.
Christian Rodunner’s 3-pointer pulled Rossville to within 38-35 before Powelson and McIntosh both hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead. McIntosh’s steal and layup put Iola up 44-37.
Rossville didn’t go away quietly. Tucker Horak’s 3-point play and steal with 2 1/2 minutes left led to a Roduner free throw, to pull Rossville to within 47-43.
Kauth took things from there.
McIntosh led the way with 15 points — including 5 of 7 free throws — followed by Powelson with 14, Macha with 10 and Kauth with seven points, eight rebounds and two steals. Macha and Powelson both had four rebounds. Macha and McIntosh also had two steals. Latta, Fryendz Wallace, McIntosh, Zimmerman, Macha and Powelson all had two assists.
Horack’s 11 led the way for Rossville.
“Tyler McIntosh has really gotten aggressive on offense,” Peeper said. “If he can continue this, it’s going to make us much tougher to guard.”
