With just a few games left before the Pioneer League Middle School Tournament, the Iola Mustangs are heating up at just the right time with multiple victories over the Prairie View Buffalos Monday.
The Iola eighth-graders turned their slow start into a 52-26 blowout while improving their record to 6-2. After ending the first quarter tied 2-2, Iola posted 50 points in the second, third and fourth quarters.
Austin Campell had a breakout performance with 26 points, followed by Milo Franklin with 13 and Cade Curry with seven points. Franklin also had a team-leading eight assists.
In eighth-grade JV action, the Mustangs improved to 6-1 after a 31-3 victory.
Kaiden Jones had a team-leading 8 points, followed by Kamdon Barnett with 5 points, then Evan Boeken and Rob Ballard with a pair of buckets each.
The seventh-grade varsity Mustangs also picked up a win by a sizable margin after downing the Buffalos 36-15. They went on a 21-5 run in the second half to improve their record to 5-3.
Landon Desmarteau had a team-leading 16 points, followed by Greyson Skahan and Colton Hall with 6 points each.
The seventh-grade junior varsity suffered Iola’s only loss of the evening, falling to Prairie View 33-11.
The Mustangs return to the hardwood Thursday on the road against Santa Fe Trail.
They have a week off before hosting Anderson County Thursday, Feb. 12.
Tip-off for Thursday’s contests begins at 5 p.m.
