Iola A-team seventh-grader Issac Badders went off for another big game on Monday putting up 12 points and slicing apart the Pittsburg defense with his driving and press-breaking ability.
Unfortunately for the Ponies, Badders scored more points than the rest of the team combined and they fell 44-22 to Pittsburg.
Iola trailed 10-6 at the end of the first period and midway through the second quarter cut the lead to 14-12 on a Badders bucket.
After a couple of Pittsburg baskets, Josh Kaufman answered with a three-pointer to make the score 18-15.
The Dragons closed the half with three consecutive points to take a 21-15 halftime lead. Then Pittsburg point guard Javon Grant began to take over.
Grant opened the second half scoring with a pair of free throws to push the lead to eight. The teams exchanged points until the end of the quarter when Pittsburg made the final points of the period to stretch the lead to double digits at 11.
Grant began the final eight minutes with five straight points and a very acrobatic and-one three-point play. That gave Pittsburg a 36-20 lead.
After Jack Adams hit a free throw, Pittsburg went on one final three-basket run that was capped by a Grant basket.
Grant finished 17 in the game for the Dragons.
IOLA’S seventh-grade B-team fell to Pittsburg 30-6 to begin the afternoon.
The Mustangs fell behind 13-1 heading into the locker room for halftime. Eli Smith scored the only points of the half for the Ponies with a free throw.
Smith hit a three-pointer in the third. Iola scored all five of its second half points in the third quarter.
The only other Pony points were scored by Dillon Slaven.
THE EIGHTH GRADE A-team went down fighting against Pittsburg with a final score of 44-33.
