Louisburg advances over Iola, 55-42

Iola's Austin Ryman (21) takes a shot over Louisburg's Billy Ewy and Anthony Powell (5) during a Fort Scott Class 4a Sub-State Tournament semifinal at the FSHS gymnasium Thursday night. Ryman scored 10 points for the Mustangs in a 55-42 loss to the Wildcats. Captured Images/Kenny Felt

Third-seeded Iola staged a comeback in the third quarter of the first semifinal of the Fort Scott Class 4A Sub-State Tournament at the FSHS gymnasium Thursday night. But second-seeded Louisburg pulled away in the fourth quarter at the free-throw line and advanced with a 55-42 victory.

The Wildcats, 15-7, will face top-seeded Fort Scott in Saturday's Sub-State final. Iola's season ended at 12-10.

The Mustangs struggled in the first half and trailed 27-19 at the break as the Wildcats opened the second period with a 9-2 run.

With a little under five minutes left in the third, Louisburg's lead was 35-22. But Jake Rourk sparked a 10-0 outburst with a layup and Greg Hayes capped it with consecutive layups.

Louisburg got a field goal and a couple of free throws as the quarter ended to make it 39-32 going into the final stanza.

Hayes' three-point goal with 4:22 left in the game brought Iola within 43-39. But Jordan Embers answered for Louisburg with a triple of his own and then the Wildcats made eight of nine free throws in the next two minutes to boost the lead to 54-39 with 44 seconds remaining.

Louisburg was 11 of 13 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.

Jason Spradling led the Wildcats with 15 points while Embers followed with 10. Hayes paced Iola with 16 points and Austin Ryman added 10.

Louisburg shot 40 percent from the field, making 18 of 45 field-goal attempts. Iola shot 33 percent on 14 of 42. The Mustangs made six of 13 fielders in the third period but went just three of 12 from the floor in the fourth.

The Wildcats won the battle of the boards, 32-29, as Anthony Powell brought down seven boards. Hayes had seven rebounds for the Mustangs.