In this time of COVID, we’ve gone from two spectators per player at basketball games, to what could be a happy mob Tuesday night, Jan. 19, when North Mahaska visits Montezuma.
“Who woulda thunk it?” as Yogi Berra supposedly said once.
But here we are.
Both the girls and boys games are attractions.
The girls mainly because North Mahaska carries in an eight-game winning streak, while Montezuma has won 14 in a row.
The boys game because it was the rangy Warhawks who put the only South Iowa Cedar League loss on the Braves, (by two points) and exposed a Montezuma problem at the time: Rebounding.
That was then, back on Dec. 1, in the season opener. But now, 6-4 Eddie Burgess has been back in action for four games for Montezuma. And the difference he has made extends to more than the boards.
Both boys teams have one league loss. North Mahaska’s was by one point to Keota.
The girls play at 6 p.m., the boys about 7:20.
GIRLS
North Mahaska 8-1 overall, 7-1 SICL
vs
Montezuma 14-1 and 11-0
Warhawks leaders
Layla Hargis, 6-0 junior, 19.9 ppg, .543 field goal shooter, including .500 from three-point range, and 13.1 rebound average.
Addie Schilling, 5-11 jr., 15.0 ppg, 6.9 assists, 6.4 rebounds. .283 field goal shooter.
Kaitlyn VanDonselaar, 5-1 jr. 10.2 ppg, .349 shooter
Bravettes leaders
Elise Boulton, 5-5 sr., 15.7 ppg, .420 three-point shooter, 5.5 assists, 3.8 assists/turnover ratio.
Mia Boulton, 5-5 so., 12.1 ppg, .400 three-point %.
Shanae Wetering, 5-11 jr., 11.9 ppg., 4.7 rb average, .580 field goal %.
Dylan Holland, 5-11 sr., 10.5 ppg, 8.4 rebound average.
Madison Johannes, 5-3 jr., 3.4 rebound avg.
TEAM FACTS
Scoring averages: North Mahaska outscoring opponents 59-37; Montezuma 66 to 28.
Shooting percentages: North Mahaska .379 field goals, including .280 on three-pointers; Montezuma .455 field goals, including .361 on treys.
Rebounds: North Mahaska 37.6, Montezuma 31.5.
Turnovers: North Mahaska 18.8, Montezuma 11.2.
BOYS
North Mahaska 8-2 overall, 8-1 SICL.
Vs
Montezuma 11-2 overall, 10-1 SICL
Warhawks leaders
Braden Steel, 6-3 so., 12.7 ppg, 9.5 rebounds, .581 shooter.
Nash Smith, 6-5 so., 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists.
Addy Bollman, 6-4 sr., 9.5 points.
Blake Readshaw 6-0 sr., 3.4 assists.
Braves leaders
Trey Shearer, 5-10 sr., 30.2 ppg, .584 field goals, .500 on three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists.
Cole Watts, 5-10 sr, 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, .589 field goals, including .463 on treys.
Masin Shearer, 5-7 so., 7.4 points, 3.8 assists.
Owen Cook, 5-10 so., 5.1 rebounds.
Eddie Burgess, 6-4 junior, 13.0 ppg, .765 field goals, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists.
TEAM FACTS
Scoring: North Mahaska outscoring foes 64-43, Montezuma 77-51.
Field goals: North Mahaska .474, Montezuma .519.
Three-pointers: North Mahaska .300, Montezuma .409.
Rebounds: North Mahaska 39, Montezuma 29.
Assists: North Mahaska 18, Montezuma 16.
Turnovers: North Mahaska, 14, Montezuma 9.
Statistics reported by coaching staffs to Quick Stats Iowa.
Grab your mask, buy a ticket, and be there!