Maybe the most amazing part of Iolas 78-41 loss to Burlington was how quickly it seemed to slip away.
The Mustangs (2-2) were playing great in the first half, matching Burlington (3-1) score for score throughout the first quarter and one possession into the second when sophomore Noah Ashmore hit a three to tie things up at 18.
Less than a minute later, the Wildcats were up nine and cruising and it became apparent that Tuesday was not going to be Iolas night.
As soon as they hit a couple of shots and pushed the lead a little bit, we had guys who wanted to be a hero instead of doing things right, Bycroft said. Instead of continuing to move the ball and find great shots, as soon as we got out of that mindset, Burlington started getting easy buckets on the other end. When we start taking quick shots that arent good shots then we give up transition buckets like crazy.
Nine straight points at the 5:15 mark of the second quarter became 14-straight at the 3:56 mark and with a minute left to play before the half, the Mustangs finally stopped the bleeding with a bucket.
The run lasted nearly seven minutes but when Burlington took that first multi-score lead, thats when it all ended for Iola.
The mindset changed, Bycroft said. I feel like its selfishness. When things start to break down, they stop playing as a team and worry about themselves. Now I cant judge everyones heart, but thats the way I see it.
Burlington grew their lead to 30 in the third quarter and then rode out the game on running clock in the fourth quarter as both teams emptied their bench.
Coming in, Bycroft and the Mustangs felt ready for Burlington. After playing several teams that played a similarly aggressive style in their preseason tournament last week, Bycroft hoped that the team would be able to carry experienced and lessons from those previous games into Tuesdays home opener.
Obviously, that did not occur.
Mostly they did what we thought theyd do, Bycroft said. They didnt press us as much as we thought, they kind of waited until the second quarter to do that but they did the same things they always do. They were physical and aggressive on the perimeter like we expected and we didnt handle it at all.
Senior Kane Rogers had 10 points followed by seven for junior Cal Leonard, five for junior Noah Ashmore, three for senior Blake Ashmore, senior Derek Bycroft, senior Hunter Preston, sophomore Dillon Bycroft and sophomore Landon Carson and two for junior Elijah Fawson and sophomore Brayden Cole.
In all, the team committed 23 total turnovers.
I told them in the locker room after the game that this has to change something inside of them personally, Bycroft said. If it doesnt, I dont know how you can be of use to us as a team. This has to make them angry and want to do something better. And that starts with practice on Wednesday.
Up next, The Mustangs will travel to Praire View for their first true road game of the season on Friday. Last season, the Iola boys beat the Buffalos all three times that they played them.
Prairie View is always tough, Bycroft said. Somehow we always struggle with what they do but its a game on paper that we should win. But Im taking nothing for granted right now. We have to get better in the next two days.
