The high school basketball season is just over a week old. I have had the chance to see five of the six local schools play at least once this season, and already, teams are beginning to develop identities for the reminder of the season.
With the season just beginning these teams will continue to evolve throughout the season, but here is what my initial impressions on each squad have been.
IOLA BOYS
The Mustangs have gotten off to the most impressive start of any of the teams I have seen.
On opening night, they went on the road to upset a top-five team in Girard. They went 2-1 in a tournament at Central Heights, where their only loss was a nail-biter against another top-five team in Kansas City Christian.
There is plenty of praise to go around.
Each of the “Big-3” of Ethan Holloway, Ben Cooper and Isaiah Fawson have carried the offense during different games.
Ethan Sigg has moved into a starting role and hasn’t missed a beat. Isaac Vink has filled out the starting lineup, with Joey Zimmerman recovering from an injury, and provided defense and athleticism to fit perfectly with the rest of the starters.
The bench goes ten-deep with players like Zach Cokely taking big steps forward this season.
The biggest credit for the early success has to go to coach Jay Applegate though.
The Mustangs have played terrific defense to begin the season and always seem to be in the right place at the right time. They also have played smart defense and have avoided foul trouble for the most part in every game. Those skills point to great coaching.
Big Question: Can they keep it up?
It Iola plays this way all season, the sky is the limit for this team. The Mustangs just need to maintain their defensive intensity and unselfishness, and they could be in for a special year.
IOLA GIRLS
While the boys have excelled with the difficult early slate, it has been more difficult for the girls.
Sydney Wade has faced every kind of defense imaginable to try to limit her production, but in the last two games she has begun to score the ball much more consistently.
In order for Wade to get free, the other Fillies are going to need to step up. A big part of that is simply getting healthy.
