PITTSBURG — Short-handed Saturday, Iola Middle School’s eighth-grade Ponies went 0-2 at the Winter Classic hosted by Pittsburg Community Middle School.
Independence defeated Iola 44-18 in the first round. Independence led 21-8 at halftime.
Drew Faulhaber and Isaiah Grover each scored eight points for the Ponies. Adam Peterson had two points.
Pittsburg blitzed the Ponies 38-5 in the second game. Iola scored three points in the first quarter and two in the third.
Grover had four points and Faulhaber scored one for Iola.
“With three starters gone the kids played hard and did the best they could,” said Marty Taylor, IMS head coach.
“Drew and Isaiah ran out of gas in the second game but they did a good job.”
Kaden Macha, Alex Bauer and Shane Walden were the three starters not playing in the tournament. The tournament concluded the season for the IMS boys.
“This tournament not withstanding, these kids really came a long way this year,” Taylor said. “Especially in the second half of the season when they started attacking the basket.”
IMS eighth-grade boys lose final two games
