Like a faulty vinyl record, Iola High’s Mustangs are going through many of the same frustrating maladies to keep them out of the win column.
On Thursday — and for the second time this week — the Mustangs were efficient on offense, stifling on defense, and had their opponents on the ropes.
And, for the second time this week, it all fell apart down the home stretch.
This time, Pioneer League Champion Wellsville’s 14-0 run spanning more than four minutes of the fourth quarter did in the Mustangs.
The spurt turned a 41-36 Iola lead into a 50-41 deficit.
Kaden Macha 3-pointer cut the gap to six points, but Iola got no closer in a 53-45 defeat.
The loss wraps up the regular season for the Mustangs at 8-12.
“Momentum is a crazy thing,” Iola head coach Bill Peeper said. “It just comes and goes unexpectedly. We’re putting ourselves in position to be successful, but we’re just not making the plays to win games.”
Unlike their previous matchup with Wellsville six days earlier, Iola stayed with the Eagles (17-3) pretty much from the outset.
The score was tied 36-36 when a foul and technical on Wellsville’s Luke Meyer turned into a five-point Iola possession. Adam Kauth hit both free throws resulting from the shooting foul, Tyler Powelson hit 1 of 2 from the line for the technical, then Fryendz Wallace drained two charities after Iola kept possession.
Problem was, those were Iola’s only points for the first 7:29 of the fourth period.
Wellsville’s Carter Mann hit a pair of free throws before Jared Klamm scored on a putback to cut Iola’s lead to 41-40. A Wellsville steal led to a Mann layup to give Wellsville the lead for good. Iola’s next four possessions came up empty on two missed shots and two turnovers. Wellsville, conversely scored on each of its subsequent possessions.
Mann’s free throws with just under a minute left put Wellsville up 50-41, sealing the win.
“I’m extremely proud of our effort,” Peeper said. “We played a great game, up until it came time to finish.”
Wellsville led 15-12 after one period, and Macha’s free throws with just over a minute left in the first half tied the score at 23-23 going into the break.
Foul trouble figured heavily into the mix for both teams, as the officials looked to contain the physicality both teams deployed beneath the basket.
