WELLSVILLE — A late-season swoon has put a damper on what had been one of the most promising Iola High basketball seasons in years.
The Mustangs fell behind early and had no answers for Wellsville’s offensive and defensive attack.
The Eagles led by as many as 30 down the stretch in a 75-50 victory.
The loss is Iola’s third in a row after the Mustangs entered last week with a 12-3 mark.
And while a loss at Anderson County the night before eliminated any hopes of a Pioneer League trophy, Tuesday’s defeat may have been even more costly.
Iola now sits at 12-6, and tied with Louisburg atop the Class 4A Substate standings after Iola held a two-game cushion entering last week.
“We’re in a little bit of a funk,” Mustang head coach Luke Bycroft said. “We’re gonna get it taken care of.”
Early on, the Mustangs looked strong. Iola’s Dillon Bycroft, Jack Adams, Tyler Boeken and Landon Carson all scored in early moments of the first quarter.
Carson’s bucket gave Iola an 11-9 lead before the Eagles responded with 3-pointers on three straight trips up the court. Boeken’s free throw and bucket late in the period sliced Wellsville’s lead to 18-14.
The Eagles forged ahead by double digits in the second quarter and didn’t look back. Carson’s trey at the end of the half pulled Iola within 35-25.
The Eagles showed in the second half why they are the top team in the Pioneer League, raining down 3-pointers, inside buckets and stifling defense. Wellsville blitzed its way out of the locker room with a 22-8 run.
“It was a physical game,” Bycroft said. “They out-physicaled us, out-rebounded us, out-hustled us.”
Iola’s Nathan Louk gave the Mustangs a spark in the third and fourth quarters, scoring seven of his eight points after intermission.
“Nathan did a good job,” Bycroft said. “He was aggressive.”
Boeken led the way on the night with 13 points.
Bycroft added six points, four assists and four rebounds. Carson added three steals and four boards. Bradyn Cole had four rebounds and two assists to go with his five points.
