KEOTA – After one quarter of play, it seemed that Montezuma’s defense might be enough to beat Keota.
Not literally, of course. But, the Keota girls didn’t score a basket in the first quarter, and didn’t get their first one until halfway through the quarter.
Meanwhile, they were not exactly being lit up by Montezuma’s offense.
The Bravettes beat Keota 46-22 and scored half of their points – 23 – in the fourth quarter.
The win on Tuesday, Jan. 4, lifted the lid on the post-holidays portion of the season for both teams.
The Bravettes (8-2 overall; 6-1 SICL), played extremely tight perimeter defense against Keota’s guard-oriented offense, forcing numerous turnovers.
But on offense, the Bravettes weren’t fluid. Sometimes, they made one pass too many. Other times, they threw up three-balls that were mis-guided missiles.
Montezuma led 6-1 after one quarter, and 14-8 at halftime.
Ellen Cook made a big trey during first half play for Montezuma, and Shanae Wetering scored 6 points off quick drives from the high post. But top-three-point shooter Mia Boulton didn’t score.
So into the third quarter they went, and it was more of the same.
But Cook came to the rescue early in the fourth period with a steal and coast-to-coast drive to put Montezuma up 25-15.
After that, things clicked for the Bravettes. Boulton found the range on some three-bombs, and Wetering continued to get to the basket on darts down the lane.
When your shots are dropping, your offense looks pretty good!
Boulton wound up with 12 points, all on three-pointers.
Wetering scored 14 points before fouling out late.
The Bravettes shot .388 for the game, after shooting far less than that in the first half.
Cook scored seven points for the Bravettes and Shiressa Wetering had 5.
Boulton had four assists and Shanae Wetering had three, to go with five rebounds.
Keota, a much-improved team, is 3-9 overall and 3-5 against the league.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts English Valleys on Friday.
JV BOYS WIN – There was no JV girls game, but the JV Braves were 57-53 winners.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 6 8 9 23 – 46
Keota 1 7 7 7 – 22
MONTEZUMA (46) – Madison Johannes 1-4, 0-0, 2, 2. Shanae Wetering 6-16, 2-2, 5, 14. Mia Boulton 4-12, 0-0, 2, 12. Jadyn Sharer 1-3, 0-0, 1, 2. Korrinn Kehoe 1-1, 0-0, 2, 2. Ellen Cook 3-7, 0-0, 1, 7. Izzy Roorda 1-1, 0-0, 2, 2. Kallie Robison 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. Shiressa Wetering 2-4, 1-4, 1, 5. TOTALS – 19-49, 3-6, 17, 46.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Fouled out: Shan. Wetering.
Turnovers: Montezuma 12.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 5-21 (Boulton 4-12, Cook 1-3, Sharer 0-1, Shan. Wetering 0-2, Johannes 0-3).
Rebounds: Montezuma 20 (Shan. Wetering 5, Johannes 3, Cook 3, Sharer 1, Roorda 2, Shir. Wetering 3, Boulton 1, Kehoe 1, Robison 1).
Assists: Montezuma 10 (Boulton 4, Shan. Wetering 3, Johannes 1, Cook 1, Shir. Wetering 1).
Steals: Montezuma 10 (Boulton 3, Johannes 2, Cook 2, Shir. Wetering 1, Shan. Wetering 1, Kehoe 1).
Blocks: Montezuma, none.