The Mustangs were in full gallop Saturday afternoon in Lafayette, as their high-powered offense guided them to a 1A semi-state title over the Southwood Knights.

 

It was a fast-paced affair from the start, as Southwood raced out to an early lead thanks to multiple Kouts turnovers. But the Mustangs would return the favor by picking up their pressure, which forced Southwood into some untimely errors and allowed the Mustangs to regain the lead near the three-minute mark of the first period. Kouts would hold the advantage in the first quarter that saw nearly 50 points combined from the two sides.

 

Southwood would hang around in the second, as the Knights answered every Kouts basket as Carson Rich and Cole Winer combined for 16 of Southwood's 20 second-quarter points. But the Wireman twins would score 17 points of their own in the second period to give Kouts an eight-point lead heading into the locker rooms.

 

The tempo was definitely in Kouts' favor, as the Mustangs repeatedly got out into transition and converted as the Wiremans again combined for 12 of Kouts' 14 points in the period. The defense for the Mustangs also turned up the heat, holding Southwood's leading scorer Carson Rich scoreless in the third.

 

The story of the game was Kouts' ability to score quick baskets, as their relentless attacking style paid dividends as their lead grew to 15 midway through the fourth. Southwood would not go down without a fight, however, as Carson Rich buried a pair of deep three-pointers to cut the deficit to ten with just over a minute to go. Kouts would convert at the foul line and get a couple of buckets on runouts in the final moments, sealing their first trip to the state finals.

 

The Wireman twins combined for 55 points for the Mustangs, with Cole scoring 29 and Cael adding 26. Carson Rich notched 30 in his final game for Southwood, while sophomore wing Cole Winer doubled his average of just under 10ppg by putting up 20 points on just 11 field goal attempts.

 

For the game, Kouts shot a phenomenal 30/51 from the field and 23/27 from the free-throw line. Southwood was just 24/55 from the floor, including 6/23 from behind the arc.

 

Southwood ends their season at 17-11, while Kouts moves to 29-2 on the year.

 

 

Southwood  22  20  12  16  -  70

Kouts      27  23  14  22  -  86

 

Southwood: Carson Rich 30 points (7/20 FGs, 4/11 3Ps, 12/13 FTs), 3 rebs, 2 asts, 6 stls; Cole Winer 20 points (9/11 FGs, 2/4 3Ps), 2 rebs, 3 stls; Dawson Filip 10 points (4/8 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 2 rebs; Connor Rich 6 points (3/6 FGs), 8 rebs, 5 asts; Logan Barley 4 points (1/4 FGs, 2/2 FTs)

 

Kouts: Cole Wireman 29 points (13/24 FGs, 1/4 3Ps, 2/4 FTs), 2 asts, 4 stls; Cael Wireman 26 points (7/11 FGs, 2/5 3Ps, 10/12 FTs), 4 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls; Hunter Kneifel 11 points (3/5 FGs, 5/5 FTs), 8 rebs, 8 asts, 3 stls; Matt Baker 10 points (4/5 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 5 rebs; Cooper Schoon 6 points (2/3 FGs, 2/2 FTs); Parker Kneifel 4 points (1/3 FGs, 2/2 FTs), 6 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls