FREDONIA An efficient high-octane offense told the tale in Iola Highs matchup against Bluestem in the second round of the Wilson County Classic.
The Mustangs led by as many as 26 in the first half, and comfortably put away the Lions 78-47.
After Mondays sloppy start, head coach Luke Bycroft was pleased to see the Mustangs fire out of the blocks.
I told the boys if we played the way we have been playing, this team would have hung with us all night long, Bycroft said. We didnt ever let them have that chance, because we established who we were early, and this is who we have to be the rest of the year.
Bluestem tried different defensive approaches, but Iola remained unfazed by the Lions constant change in defense. Landon Carson started the Mustangs off with a 3-pointer, and was followed by a deuce from Tyler Boeken to give Iola a 5-0 head start.
Carson and Boeken captained the ship that steadily sailed for four quarters. Boeken posted his best performance of the season with 15 points and seven rebounds as starter Dillon Bycroft slowly returns from an ankle injury. Carson tied Mondays season high with another 18-point performance.
Boeken did a great job. He is playing with so much confidence, and is really getting after it inside. He is getting much more comfortable inside, he is really helping us rebound the ball, and his scoring inside is huge for us.
Iola led 16-7 at the end of the first, and padded its lead in the second. The Mustangs opened the period with a 7-0 run before a Lions timeout was called. The attempted regroup, however, failed to make a difference. Another trey from Carson, and a fast-break finish from Jack Adams stretched Iolas lead to to 21.
The Mustangs stood in control at the break, leading 43-25.
We challenged every rebound tonight, and we havent hustled for rebounds like that all year, Bycroft said. And when you get rebounds, tips, and steals, then you get points in transition. What we do best is transition, which means we have to play defense and rebound. We did that tonight, and I am proud of those boys.
The Mustangs steadily added to their lead in the third. Senior Casen Barker entered the game in the period, and gave Iola its largest lead at 59-30 with the left-handed finish.
Iolas pummeling of Bluestem continued in the fourth. An easy basket from Cal Leonard gave Iola a 30-point advantage to trigger the running clock, and the Mustangs silenced the Lions 78-47.
With the win over Bluestem, Iola advances to the championship game of the Wilson County Classic. Awaiting Iola is two-seed Cherryvale, who was without star Gavin Hooper in Tuesdays win over Girard. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on Friday in the Wilson Gym at Fredonia High.
If they dont have Hooper, it will change what they do offensively because they havent played without him a whole lot, Bycroft said. If he is back, he can put it in the hole. As a team they can score the ball, but I dont think they can match up and defend us across the board.
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