Mustangs unable to overcome slow start

GARNETT — Nothing was settled until the final buzzer in Iola High Mustangs’ fourth game of the season. Victory was right there. They could taste it.
The Mustangs just couldn’t grasp it Friday night.
When two 0-3 teams lock up. one is going to chalk up a victory. Anderson County High’s Bulldogs used an 8-0 start to Friday’s fifth-place game of the 2010 Anderson County High Invitational to help fend off the Mustangs.
Iola whittled the deficit to one point several times throughout the contest. The last time was 49-48 when senior Charles Apt scored with less than a minute left in the game.
Anderson County hit 6 of 10 free throws in the final minute of play to stave off the Mustangs. The Bulldogs had a 50-48 lead when Iola’s Jerrik Sigg, who ended up with 15 points and three steals, missed a shot with 24 seconds left.
Anderson County held on for a 53-49 victory.
“We had such a slow start tonight it made it a challenge to come all the way back,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach, who saw his team drop to 0-4.
“There’s no doubt our kids played hard and battled. We’re finding ways to get what we want — the shots and getting to the line. We have to figure out how to take care of the ball better.”
Iola battled back from the early eight-point deficit. The Mustangs trailed 12-7 at the end of the first quarter.
A three-pointer by Sigg made it 25-22 late in the second period. A defensive rebound by Mason Coons set up a basket by Sigg with under 20 seconds left in the first half.
The Bulldogs went to the break clinging to a one-point lead, 25-24.
Iola had opportunities early in the third period to take the lead but couldn’t get the shot to fall. Anderson County  outscored Iola 14-10 in the period.
Christian Kauth’s basket made it 36-34 and a foul away from the basket gave the ball back to the Mustangs. They were not able to tie the game and the Bulldogs were up 39-34 going into the final eight minutes.
The Mustangs stayed within striking distance. Iola was down by three, 41-38 with just over five minutes to play.
Kauth traded baskets with Eric Tastove. Thomas Benton hit the front end of a one-and-one for the Bulldogs to make it 44-40.
Sigg dropped in four free throws to counter a Tastove basket for Anderson County. Down 47-44, Apt stole the basketball and scored. It was 47-46 with 1:17 left.
Clay Yoder sank two free throw for the Bulldogs and Apt scored to get it to 49-48.
Iola shot 47 percent, 17 of 36, from the field and went 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. It was the 20-plus turnovers that hampered the Mustangs’ drive to a victory.
Clint Heffern finished with 10 points and three rebounds. Apt had five rebounds. Kauth grabbed three rebounds and Levi Ashmore had three steals.
Tastove led the Bulldogs with 17 points. The Bulldogs were 11 of 22 from the line.
Iola has been on the road for its first four games of the season. The Mustangs wrap up pre-Christmas play at home next week.
Parsons comes to Iola Tuesday then Independence comes in on Friday.
Iola (7-17-10-15—49) (FG/3-pt); Sigg 3/1-6-2-15, Larson 3-2-4-8, Heffern 1/2-2-2-10, Kauth 3-0-4-6, Apt 2-2-3-6, Taylor 1-0-1-2, Ashmore 1-0-5-2. TOTALS: 14/3-12-21-49.
Anderson County  (12-13-14-14—53) (FG/3-pt): Tastove 7-3-4-17, Smith 4-0-4-8, Yoder 2-4-3-8, Rickabaugh 1/2-0-3-8, Sinclair 3-0-3-6, Benton 1-3-2-5, Mechnig 0-1-1-1, Mudd 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 18/2-11-21-53.