Another tough team, another slow start.
The Braves, trailing Belle Plaine 29-8 at halftime, played better after intermission.
But lanky, quick-moving Belle Plaine cruised home to a 54-38 victory in Montezuma on Friday, Jan. 1, at home.
The Braves had problems moving the ball for good percentage shots against the Belle Plaine defense. Evidence: Just four assists for Montezuma, on 17 made baskets.
Belle Plaine went 10-for-11 from the line and outscored Montezuma by 8 points from there. Brady Boulton shot Montezuma’s only two free throws of the game.
Belle Plaine did a better job of defending without fouling.
Forward Garrett Watts led Montezuma with 19 points and worked hard to get open. But he also had foul problems and eventually reached his fifth and final one.
Brady Boulton and the other Braves were not able to help out in the scoring areas in their usual capacities.
Boulton scored 12 points – half his average – and didn’t connect on 11 attempts from behind the arc. As a team Montezuma was 5-for-30 on three pointers – just .167 shooting from deep.
After Watts and Boulton, Montezuma’s next scorer was Kohen Holland at five points, but he helped big time on the boards with 14 rebounds.
The defeat left Montezuma at 7-4 on the season.
Belle Plaine climbed to 9-2.
UP NEXT – The Braves and Bravettes host English Valleys on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Belle Plaine 14 14 16 10 – 54
Montezuma 4 5 18 11 – 38
MONTEZUMA (38) – Dane Strong 1-3, 0-0, 1, 3. Briar Simpson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Garrett Watts 8-20, 0-0, 5, 19. David Rose 0-3, 0-0, 2, 0. Luke Brennan 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0. Brady Boulton 5-20, 2-2, 2, 12. Alex Black 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Kohen Holland 2-5, 0-0, 1, 5. Max Anderson 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 17-56, 2-2, 17, 38.
BELLE PLAINE (54) – TOTALS 20-53, 10-11, 10, 54.
Line score legend: Field goals made attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 6, Belle Plaine 7.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 5-30 (Watts 3-6, Strong 1-3, Holland 1-3, Rose 0-3, Brennan 0-2, Boulton 0-11, Anderson 0-2); BP 4-11.
Rebounds: Montezuma 26 (Holland 14, Watts 4, Boulton 3, Simpson 2, Black 1, Strong 1, Rose 1); Belle Plaine 36.
Assists: Montezuma 4 (Watts 1, Rose 1, Boulton 1, Anderson 1).
Steals: Montezuma 5 (Boulton 3, Rose 1, Black 1).