The Iola Mustangs hope to snap a two-game slide when they face Pioneer League juggernaut Burlington Friday, and Iola Coach Luke Bycroft hopes to work out a few kinks before then.
The 3A Mustangs (8-8, 3-3) were a possession short of defeating 4A Southeast Kansas League competitor Independence (7-6, 3-2).
Iola sophomore Mosiah Fawson hit a 3-pointer with 7 seconds left, but Iola could not foul fast enough to keep the contest going in Tuesday’s 60-58 loss.
“We need to start rebounding the basketball or we’re not going to win a lot of games,” Bycroft said.
“These boys will compete. They work hard and they try to run the things you ask them to run. They’re fun to coach, but if they don’t try to rebound the ball every possession we’re not going to win games.”
One possession shy seemed the theme for the night as Iola fell behind, then rallied to come just short of catching up with Independence.
Iola evenly distributed the ball throughout the night, leading to three players reaching double digits in scoring.
Junior forward Keegan Hill posted his second double-double this week with a team-leading 10 rebounds and 10 points.
Junior guard Austin Crooks scored the majority of his team-leading 16 points in the fourth quarter with a pair of field goals and a pair of 3-pointers to keep it a one-possession game.
However, with every Iola success Independence found a way to positively respond and keep the Mustangs at a distance.
“It was extra shots, and one- pointers, that type of stuff. We’re giving them extra possessions every game,” Bycroft said. “It’s frustrating to lose these close games. Like last Friday, against Anderson County, we have got to do better at not giving them extra shots.”
One positive from Tuesday was Iola’s progress in becoming a more productive team all around.
Fawson proved his reliability behind the arc with a pair of timely 3-pointers, earning him second in scoring with 13 points.
Crooks and Hill each had four assists with senior guard Nick Bauer’s leading with five.
After narrow losses to Independence and Anderson County in the War of 54 Basketball Tournament championship game, Coach Bycroft prefers actual victories over moral victories.
“Games where you come up a little bit short are not moral victories,” Bycroft said. “It’s a loss because you didn’t do your job and we have to do our job anytime a shot goes up.”
