The Iola Middle School seventh-grade Mustangs brought the 2025 season to an end after falling 32-28 in a toe-to-toe battle with the Burlington Wildcats in Saturday’s Pioneer League championship game.
Despite leading 12-2 at one point, the Mustangs came out on the losing end of a back-and-forth battle in the title game, which Coach John Higginbotham believes will motivate them for a return to the championship as eighth-graders.
“They played hard and they did well,” Higginbotham said. “They’re a good team. The first time we played Burlington we lost by 16 points. The next time we played them we lost by 10. This time, we lost by four. We hung around but those last shots just didn’t fall.”
Abby Boeken had a team-leading 13 points, getting the Mustangs started with 5 points in the first quarter. Scores by Cyleigh Rutherford, Elliot Sigg and Jaylie Herrmann gave Iola a 14-10 lead by halftime.
A big fourth quarter by the Wildcats made the difference in the game’s outcome.
Rutherford ended the day scoring 7 points. Herrmann had 6 points, including a second-quarter 3-pointer.
“At the end, I told them ‘You can be upset. You can be frustrated. Lock this in. This is the team we’re going to see next year,’” Higginbotham said. “‘This is your team and you are going to be together not just now but into high school. Lock this moment in.’” Higginboth said he told the girls.
On their journey to the championship, the Mustangs defeated Santa Fe Trail 24-16. The final score was closer than the contest. Iola built up a 20-5 lead by halftime and went into cruise control from there.
Their only scores in the second half came off a Sigg jumper from close range and a pair of Sigg free throws. Sigg had 10 points, followed by Rylee Weast with 5, including a second quarter 3-pointer, and Maicy Kimball with 4 points. 
The seventh-grade Mustangs ended the season with an 11-3 record.
“We lost to Burlington twice and Wellsville in overtime by 3 points,” Higginbotham said. “Being 9-3 in the regular season and runner-up is a great place to be.”
Eighth-graders take fifth place
Over in Osawatomie, after opening the tournament with a loss to Anderson County, the Mustangs ended their season on a high note with a 14-12 victory over Prairie View.
Moira Springer and Hillary Gean scored 4 points each. Gean also had 4 points against Anderson County while Cora Boren had 7. With the win, the Mustangs end their season with a 2-12 record.
