By Keith Brake
I once heard this admonition for coaches from a high school basketball game official:
“Coach your team. Don’t coach the team you wish you had.”
If translation is needed, here it is: Make your style fit the talent you have on hand, not the other way.”
My experience observing basketball coaches is that utilizing what you have is more fun – and effective – for all involved.
And we all need to reduce the stress in our lives these days!
Montezuma fans have seen their two varsity teams win at about an 80 percent clip since Janel Burgess and Derrick Dengler took over the Bravettes and Braves a few years ago.
Both teams are repeat performers in their respective state tournament, and the Braves have a state championship trophy on display at the school.
Both coaches have made recent statements that tell you they’re followers of that “coach your team” line.
“We’ll try to find a style that fits our guys,” Dengler said when he was asked about next season.
“We could be really big . . . depending on how we want to play,” Burgess said.
Girls talent keeps coming
The Bravettes were pretty young. They’ll be graduating just seniors Shanae Wetering and Korrinn Kehoe.
Returning are experienced guards Mia Boulton, Madison Johannes, Jadyn Sharer and Ellen Cook.
Boulton is perhaps the best three-point shooter in any class of Iowa girls basketball and I can’t see that role changing.
Johannes is an ever-improving ball handler, lock down defender and shooter.
Cook will be just a sophomore who can shoot from outside and drive, and can play on the point.
Then there’s Sharer, who has the advantage of height, but adds all the guard skills . . and can take the basketball to the rim. She just might be the Bravettes’ “stealth bomber.”
“Jadyn might be flying under the (opponent’s) radar,” Burgess said.
There’s also Shiressa Wetering and Kallie Robison returning up front with varsity experience.
And, there’s a strong returning group of girls who played roles on this year’s team. They include Madison Van Zee, Jordan Ranfeld, Laila Kercheval, Alivia Cline, Ashlee Eilander (more height) and Abby Cheney.
All have different skill sets. Given an off-season of skills development, these girls could provide Burgess with her deepest group yet next season.
Boys will need some rebounders
When you lose the top boards man in school history, it’s pretty obvious that working on rebounding technique will be a point of emphasis for the Braves in the off season.
Better shooting will be a point of emphasis, too.
Masin Shearer returns his quickness and eyes from three-point range. Gavin Strong is another sharp-shooter who can hit the trey but also drive.
Owen Cook is a premier defender and became a strong scorer late in the season. Colton Benson is a tough defender; so is Maguire De Jong.
Max Anderson can hit the outside shot.
Garrett Watts, now recovered from his broken foot, should regain his shooting touch.
Other players on the varsity roster were Alex Black, a strong JV board man, versatile and physical Houston VanRoekel and sneaky quick Jack Erselius.
The Braves will get contributions from other JV players, and there is talent coming in from the eighth grade.
Next year’s team could be deep, and skilled. And, we hope, locked in to being good on defense.
Shanae will join a good program
I think most Montezuma basketball fans know that Dylan Holland and Elise Boulton play on a very strong NCAA Division 3 Simpson College team.
Next season, Shanae Wetering will be joining a Clarke College team that is a ranking power in the NAIA ranks.
Clarke made it to the round of 16 in the NAIA tournament this weekend in Sioux City.
The Pride got knocked out in the first round, putting an end to a 31-5 season.
This was the third time in the last four seasons that Clarke made it to the round of 16.
Clarke won its first regular season league championship, and its second straight conference tournament title.
The team returns all five starters.
Add Shanae Wetering to that kind of experience, and the future looks bright for Clarke.