WILLIAMSBURG – When you play an opponent from a larger school, you must be prepared for their physicality, because surely you will feel it.
Can you match it? Maybe. And maybe not. If you’re Montezuma, you don’t go to war quite as often against what Williamsburg must face almost every night.
What about intensity? That’s more up to you than them. You CAN match that, even surpass it. If you do, you may just break that opponent.
It went something like that for the Montezuma Bravettes basketball team, who were playing against larger Williamsburg Saturday afternoon and evening, Dec. 17.
The Bravettes won it, 64-54. And, somewhere in an intense second half, the Raiders’ will to subdue their small school opponent seemed to fade to black.
Montezuma just wouldn’t go away.
The Bravettes got the shots they wanted through most of this game. But many hit the rim flat and bounced away, or spun and rolled off.
The Bravettes kept their hands and feet moving on defense, pushed the Raiders’ offense away from the basket, and pretty soon, Montezuma was getting some uncontested looks at the other end of the floor – and making baskets.
Down 33-31 at halftime, the Bravettes outscored Williamsburg 33-21 in the second half, during which they took control, paying with sweat and a little skin. Not fancy. But effective.
The Raiders entered with a 2-5 record under a first-year coach. But remember, it’s a bigger school, its players more used to bumping and hand-checking, and to teams with multiple weapons. They have to be quick of mind and foot to stay competitive.
Montezuma got 18 points from guard Mia Boulton and 13 from post Shiressa Wetering, who was relentless going to the basket after tough shooting luck early. They got eight first half points from Jadyn Sharer on drives and treys from the corner. Sharer finished with 11 points.
Guard Ellen Cook scored eight, as did guard Madison Johannes, as she and Boulton shook off some shooting problems that had plagued their last two games.
Post Kallie Robison scored six, set some vital screens when the Bravettes were making their second half run, and battled ’em on the boards.
The guard-oriented Bravettes, meanwhile, had to deal with a pair of promising backcourt players who caused problems.
Zoe Allen(#10), a ninth-grader, scored 25, but she was coming down after putting in 15 during the first half. Makenna Hughes (#11), a sophomore, scored 16, and was a handful for Montezuma on drives to the basket.
The non-conference win lifted the Bravettes to 6-1 overall.
UP NEXT – Montezuma’s girls and boys host Iowa Valley on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 14 17 16 17 – 64
Williamsburg 15 18 11 10 – 54
MONTEZUMA (64)
Madison Johannes 3-6, 0-0, 2, 8. Ellen Cook 3-7, 1-5, 1, 8. Izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Claire Erselius 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Mia Boulton 6-10, 3-4, 1, 18. Jadyn Sharer 4-10, 0-0, 2, 11. Jordan Ranfeld 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Harlea Pargeon 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Kallie Robison 3-5, 0-0, 0, 6. Shiressa Wetering 6-15, 1-2, 1, 13. TOTALS – 25-53, 5-11, 8, 64.
WILLIAMSBURG (54) – TOTALS – 22-47, 4-7, 14, 54.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 9-14 (Boulton 3-3, Sharer 3-5, Johannes 2-4, Cook 1-2); Williamsburg – 6-15.
Turnovers: Montezuma 4, Williamsburg 12.
Rebounds: Montezuma 22 (Boulton 6, Wetering 5, Sharer 4, Johannes 3, Cook 3, Robison 1); Williamsburg – 22.
Assists: Montezuma 13 (Boulton 5, Cook 3, Johannes 2, Robison 2, Sharer 1.
Steals: Montezuma 4 (Johannes 2, Cook 1, Boulton 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 1 (Wetering 1); Williamsburg 3.