Two of Iola High’s leading contributors on the court this season earned recognition by the Pioneer League. NONE OF THE IHS Fillies earned all-league recognition.
The Mustangs’ Tyler Powelson and Mason Coons were voted to the all league squad.
Powelson was named to the first team; Coons to the second.
Powelson, a 6-2 junior, averaged 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He also had 31 steals, 1.6 per contest, and 28 blocked shots, which accounted for all but eight of Iola’s blocks as a team.
Powelson scored in double figures in eight games, including a season-high 19 on Dec. 4 against Burlington.
Coons, a 6-3 senior, averaged 10.5 points per game, the only Mustang player to average double figures for the season. He also was Iola’s leading 3-point shooter, draining 32, while connecting on 70 percent of his free throws. Coons averaged 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per contest.
Coons’ high-water mark was a 20-point outburst Jan. 15 in a win over Sabetha, including a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range.
After a number of close losses to start the season, the Mustangs hit January on a high note, winning five straight at one point. But the Mustangs tailed off from there, dropping nine consecutive to end the year at 7-13. Iola finished 3-6 in its inaugural season in the Pioneer League, taking fourth.
League champion Anderson County (Eric Tastove and Drew Mechnig) and runner-up Wellsville (Carter Mann and Shamus Kearney) each placed two players on the first team. Central Heights’ Jordan Horstick also earned first-team honors.
Joining Coons on the second team were Tanner Erhart of Central Heights, Luke Miller of Prairie View and Riley England and Morgan Soucie of Osawatomie.
Earning first-team honors on the girls side were Emily Feldman and Madie Griffin, Prairie View, Jaime Mersman, Anderson County, Brianna Erhart, Central Heights, and Darcy Bonzo, Wellsville. Second-team honorees were Erica McTaggart, Wellsville, Britnie Wright, Osawatomie, Macy Adams, Anderson County, Sydney Meyer, Central Heights, and Brittney Diehm, Prairie View.
Pioneer League recognizes Iola tandem
