Trailing by double digits for much of the contest, the Indianola boys basketball team mounted a furious comeback that fell just short as their season came to a close against Johnston Friday night 65-60 in a game heard live on 94.3 KNIA. Johnston was ahead from start to finish and dominated the contest through the first three quarters, with a 40-30 lead at halftime and a 55-42 lead after the third, but the Indians did not go away quietly. Holding the Dragons to just two points for the first five minutes of the final frame, the Indians got back within three at 54-57 to make the game close down the stretch. Trailing by five with less than a minute to go, freshman Drew Kingery hit a three-point shot to get the Indians within two points at 62-60, but the Dragons made their free throws down the stretch and several Indians shots didn’t fall to end the game. Head coach Brett Watson tells KNIA Sports of course the loss hurts, but he couldn’t be more proud of his guys for the way they battled back.

“All I know is that we are just going to keep fighting. We have some guys returning, and we are going to have to replace some guys. But the bottom line is I’m very proud to coach these guys because of their effort and the way they brought it every single day in practice and every single game. Their intensity and effort was tremendous. It’s going to be a tough one to swallow, but that’s life and we are just going to move on from it and I know those guys will do well.”

The Indians end their season with a 19-4 record, and graduate six seniors.