Mustangs come up short in overtime

BURLINGTON — In what may have been Iola High’s best game of the 2013-14 season, the Mustangs had plenty to cheer Tuesday — except for the ending.
Iola managed to keep up with Labette County’s bruising front court and hot-shooting guards with a salty defensive effort, plenty of hustle and some clutch shooting of its own.
The Mustangs erased a 10-point second-half deficit, forced overtime and even pulled ahead by four with a pair of quick scores to start the extra session.
But Labette County showed why it’s considered one of the power teams of southeast Kansas. The Grizzlies took advantage during a key sequence in the overtime, and hit 6 of 8 free throws to come away with a 65-59 win.
The loss, in the first round of the Burlington midseason tournament, puts Iola on the consolation side of the bracket. The Mustangs will take on Santa Fe Trail, which dropped a 60-40 decision to Paola in their opener. The winner will play in the fifth-place game Saturday against either Rossville or Christ Prep. Rossville fell 74-43 to Sabetha in its opener. Christ Prep was edged, 50-48, by host Burlington.
“It was a great high school basketball game,” Iola head coach Bill Peeper said. “We had a great effort with each team getting some big runs.”
A pair of steals led to scores by Kaden Macha and Trent Latta, putting Iola on top 58-54 in the overtime.
The tide  turned  to Labette County’s favor when Zack Stewart and Lee Reliford pulled in key offensive rebounds on consecutive possessions to pull the Grizzlies to within 59-58.
Then, the Grizzlies’ Braden Page cut short Iola’s next possession with a steal and layup. He completed the 3-point play with a free throw to put Labette County on top, 61-59.
Page hit another free throw at the 56.8 mark to push the lead to three before Macha’s long jumper bounced in and out of the rim. Stewart grabbed the rebound and hit 1 of 2 free throws to push the lead to four.
Latta’s 3-pointer and follow attempt both were off the mark before Stewart grabbed the rebound. He hit both for the final margin.
“We just had a couple of mental errors that cost us,” Peeper said. “They’re a big bunch.”

THE FIRST half featured five ties before Labette County took a 25-21 lead into the locker room. Stewart, held to four points in the first half, erupted for 11 in the third quarter as the Grizzlies led briefly, 40-30, before Fryendz Wallace scored twice for the Mustangs at the end of the period.
Tyler Powelson helped spearhead the comeback, scoring 13 in the fourth quarter, including a pair of free throws with 3:34 remaining to give Iola its first lead of the game, 49-48.
Powelson’s baseline drive with a minute remaining put Iola on top 54-53. Russel hit the second of two free throws to tie the score.
Stewart rebounded  a Wallace miss, giving Labette County the final possession. Reliford dribbled around the perimeter for the final 16 seconds of regulation, misfiring on a fadeaway jumper as time expired.
Tyler McIntosh’s steal early in the overtime led to a Macha jumper to give Iola a two-point lead. Latta’s steal and layup 10 seconds later gave Iola its biggest lead, 58-54.
Then, Labette County’s size took over.
“Fryendz and Kaden and Tyler Powelson really set the tone inside,” Peeper said. “They did a great job of attacking the basket.
“It’s easy to look back now and pick apart this play or that play,” he continued. “But I was happy with our intensity. If we can play like this against these guys, we can play with anybody that’s left on our schedule.”
Powelson led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Macha followed with 18 points and four rebounds. Wallace had 15 points, five rebounds and two assists. McIntosh and Latta both had two steals. McIntosh also had three assists. Adam Kauth had two dimes.
Stewart and Page both scored 22 to lead the Grizzlies. Reliford followed with 13.
The Grizzlies were 15 of 22 from the free throw line; Iola 11 of 19.
Friday’s matchup against Santa Fe Trail will give the Mustangs a glimpse of their future. The Chargers will join the Pioneer League in the 2014-15 school year.
Iola (12-9-13-20-5—59)
Labette Co. (14-11-15-14-11—65
Iola (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Latta 1-2-3-4, Mueller 0-0-1-0, Wallace 7-1-1-15, McIntosh 1-0-5-2, Zimmerman 0-0-2-0, Macha 5/2-2-3-18, Kauth 0-1-0-1. Powelson 7-5-4-19. TOTALS: 21/2-11-19-59.
Labette Co. (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Dwyer 0-0-2-0, Buchanan 0-3-2-3, Dowty 0-0-3-0, Page 2/5-3-2-22, O’Connor 1/1-0-5-5, Reliford 4/1-2-3-13, Stewart 6/1-7-3-22. TOTALS: 13/8-15-20-65.