Mustangs’ season of frustration ends

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Sports

February 25, 2011 - 12:00 AM

INDEPENDENCE — For the third straight game, it was a short span when an opponent outscored Iola High’s Mustangs at the beginning of a quarter. The Mustangs did not recover and finished a very frustrating season at 1-19.
Independence High’s Bulldogs broke a 17-17 halftime score with six unanswered points. The Bulldogs, playing their final regular season in Losey Gymnasium, held off a Mustang rally midway through the fourth quarter to win 41-30.
“We talked about it at halftime not being a victim of a quick six- to eight-point spurt. But we were,” said Bill Peeper, Mustang head coach.
The Bulldogs will play one more game, a first-round Class 4A substate game in Losey next week. Independence High moves into a new gym next year.
The 2010-2011 Mustang basketball season was only the second time Iola has won just one game. In 1962-63 under Don Bain, Iola was 1-18. The Mustangs were 2-19 in 2004-2005 under David Taylor.
It is the sixth time since 1948-49 that the Iola boys have gone winless in Southeast Kansas League play. The Mustangs were 0-14 in 1952-53 and 1954-55. They were 0-8 in 1996-97, 1998-99, 2004-2005 and now 2010-2011.
But the Mustangs have an opportunity to put it behind them as they go into Kansas Class 4A Substate Tournament play Monday. They are the underdogs and having nothing to lose as they play at Ottawa at 7 p.m.
“We get to start again Monday. We’re excited about going up and playing Ottawa, which is a very good team,” Peeper said.
“Our expectations as a team are rising. We showed that there was not a team in our league that we haven’t been competitive with this season. We just couldn’t get over the hump in games.”
Iola played without their lone senior, Charles Apt, who became ill on the ride to Independence, Peeper said.
Two free throws by Christian Kauth and a basket by Braden Larson had the game tied at 4-4. A  field goal by Jerrik Sigg pulled the Mustangs to a 6-6 tie.
Independence led 9-6 at the end of the first quarter. Sigg nailed a three-pointer to get Iola to within one two minutes into the second period.
Kauth had a basket and two free throws to give Iola its only lead of the game. It was 15-13 with 2:31 before halftime. By the break, the teams were knotted 17-17.
After a delayed start to the third quarter when an Independence cheerleader fell and was injured, the Bulldogs bolted to six straight points. Larson broke the run. Jarred Latta’s trey at the three-minute mark made it a four-point game, 26-22.
Independence carried a six-point lead into the fourth quarter. A three by Levi Ashmore, a basket by Sigg and Ashmore hitting a free throw when Independence’s coach was assessed a technical had the Mustangs down 31-28 with 4:22 left in the game. It was 15-13 with 2:31 before halftime. By the break, the teams were knotted 17-17.
After a delayed start to the third quarter when an Independence cheerleader fell and was injured, the Bulldogs bolted to six straight points. Larson broke the run. Jarred Latta’s trey at the three-minute mark made it a four-point game, 26-22.
Independence carried a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.
A three by Levi Ashmore, a basket by Sigg and Ashmore hitting a free throw when Independence’s coach was assessed a technical had the Mustangs down 31-28 with 4:22 left in the game.
Iola had the basketball after the technical but did not take advantage. Instead, T.J. Reed had a three-point play for the Bulldogs as Larson fouled out of the game for Iola.
The Mustangs scored only two more points in the final four minutes and the Bulldogs added 10.
Sigg led Iola with nine points and Kauth had eight. Dalton Shaffer scored nine to lead Independence and Alex Steinle added eight.
Iola’s junior varsity won 46-32 as Trent Latta fired in 15 points and Jarred Latta had 10. The junior varsity was 6-11 on the season.
The Mustang freshmen pulled out a 48-41 overtime victory Thursday. Trent Latta and Tyler McIntosh each had 13 points.
Adam Kauth had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The freshmen have games at home tonight to end their season.
Iola High is hosting a freshman boys and girls’ round-robin tournament tonight.
The boys’ games are at the high school gym. Iola plays Fort Scott at 4:30 followed by Fort Scott playing Chanute at 6 o’clock. Iola plays Chanute at 7:30 p.m.
At Iola Middle School, the Iola girls play Jayhawk-Linn at 4:30, Jayhawk-Linn plays Chanute at 6 o’clock and Iola takes on Chanute at 7:30.
Iola (6-11-5-8—30) (FG/3-pt): Heffern 0/1-0-1-3, Ashmore 0/1-1-4-4, Conner 0-2-2-2, Sigg 2/1-2-0-9, Taylor 0-0-3-0, Larson 2-0-5-4, Kauth 2-4-2-8. TOTALS: 6/3-9-17-30.
Independence (9-8-11-13—41) (FG/3-pt): Botts 1-2-4-4, Gar. Webster 2-1-0-5, Shaffer 1-7-1-9, Steinle 2-4-4-8, Julian 2-2-2-6, Nickles 2-0-3-4, Reed 2-1-0-5. TOTALS: 12-17-13-41.

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