By Coach Doug Helm
The Montezuma Bravettes 7th grade girls basketball team traveled to Sully on Monday, Jan. 16, to face strong Lynnville-Sully 7th grade team.
The Hawks beat the Bravettes 31-24 in their December match-up.
Monte jumped to an early lead when Lauryn Larmore was double -teamed and found Alexa Rose for a corner three.
Then just two minutes into the game, the Bravettes top scorer, Larmore had 2 fouls. Larmore stayed in the game and she had two strong drives to get 4 points in the first. Monte had a 7-2 lead at the end of the first.
Using a strong defense, the Bravettes continued pushing their lead in the second quarter. Monte held a 14-6 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was hard-fought. Larmore hit her second 3-pointer of the game. Alexa Rose had a strong drive and a free throw to score three in the quarter. Monte had a 20-10 lead heading to the 4th.
Early in the fourth, Larmore missed, but Olivia Latcham scored a big power point. Midway through the last quarter, Sophia Semprini, who was also guarding the Hawks top scorer, had a power point and a nice layup to get 4 points.
The Hawks started pressing the Bravettes late in the 4th and the Bravettes panicked at times. The Hawks made a run late but the Bravettes were able to hold them off. Monte won 28-22.
Monte shot a nice field goal percentage against a strong defense. The Bravettes were 12-33 (36%) from the field, 3-6 (50%) on 3-pointers and 1-9 (11%) from the line.
Lynnville-Sully was 10-56 (18%) from the field, 0-5 on 3-pointers and 2-8 (25%) from the line. The Hawks won the battle of the boards 38-34. The Hawks also won the turnovers 23-16. I’ve never coached a game where the opponent shot 23 more shots, out-rebounded us and had fewer turnovers.
Larmore led the way with 13 points including two 3-pointers and 3 assists. Alexa Rose also had a big game. Rosy had 9 points including a 3-pointer. She also had 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Sophia Semprini played a strong defensive game. Soph also had 4 points, 9 rebounds and a block. Olivia Latcham anchored the middle with 2 points and 5 rebounds. Ryanne Williams had 6 rebounds. Emma Snook had a block.
The 7th graders move to 5-2 on the season. They travel to Belle Plaine on Tuesday and Iowa Valley on Thursday.