COFFEYVILLE — Iola Middle School’s eighth-graders took a huge early lead, then held on for a victory Thursday evening. THE IOLA seventh-graders trailed 14-4 after one quarter and 21-10 at the break. ROOSEVELT captured a 19-18 win in a combined B team game. Cokely scored seven, Miller six, Knavel three and William Winner two.
The seventh-graders took the opposite track, falling to an early deficit before turning on the jets to take home a come-from-behind victory in overtime.
The eighth-graders led host Roosevelt Middle School of Coffeyville 36-7 after three quarters. Roosevelt ended the game with a 25-7 burst, but it was not enough in the Ponies’ 43-32 victory.
“A couple of bumps in the road, but overall it was a good night for the kids,” Iola head coach Marty Taylor said.
Iola led 8-3 after one quarter and took control with a 16-0 run over the second quarter and a 12-4 margin in the third.
Evan Sigg led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Isaac Vink followed with nine points, Caden Knavel scored six and Cale Barnhart four. Nick Vaughn chipped in with three points and five rebounds. Matt Miller scored one point with five boards. Zach Cokely also had one point.
“Evan was strong inside tonight,” Taylor said. “He really played well.”
“We weren’t ready to play when the game started and Coffeyville took it to us,” Taylor said.
The tide started turning in the third quarter when Iola closed to within 34-25. The Ponies outscored Roosevelt 19-10 in the fourth period to force overtime, then ended the game on a 10-0 run.
“I think we grew up a little tonight,” Taylor said. “The kids didn’t get their heads down and dominated the last 15 minutes against a very athletic team. We had some very good individual nights, but it was the team that won this one.”
Tayton Driskel and Kane Rogers did the bulk of the damage. Driskel had 21 points and 15 rebounds. Rogers followed with 17 points and 10 boards. Blake Ashmore added nine points, Cole Regehr scored four and Derek Bycroft had three.
The Ponies will wrap up their 2014 season Monday at Pittsburg.
IMS Pony teams win nailbiters
