By Derrick Dengler
Head boys basketball coach
With Keith Brake
Montezuma Magazine editor
The basketball Braves enter the new season looking to build on last year’s 20–4 campaign, which included a second-place finish in the SICL.
Montezuma will need to replace three graduated starters, but the program returns a strong core and welcomes an exciting group of young players ready to contribute.Senior Brady Boulton, a four-year starter and first team all-state selection, headlines the roster after averaging more than 28 points per game last season—making him one of Class 1A’s top returning scorers.
The other returning starter is Junior Dane Strong, an honorable-mention all-conference guard. Returning contributors include seniors Luke Brennan, Broox Stockman, and juniors Easton Hudnut and Linkyn Bru, all key contributors off the bench a year ago.
A talented group of underclassmen helps give the Braves good, solid numbers this season.
Sophomores Kaden Latcham, Talen Holland, Brodie Saringer, and Ciao Araujo continue to develop.
A large freshman class—including Aiden and Breyer Chidester, Nolan Hudnut, 6-4 Thomas Heemstra, Cooper McNaul, Brooks Wilson, Luke Benson, Hayden Bardwell, and Ty Smothers—add size, energy, and future potential.
This year’s goals are: To compete for a conference championship, become one of the best defensive teams in Class 1A, and continue building a positive, team-first culture that makes the season a great experience for every player in the program.
GMG Scrimmage: At 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. This was just with GMG. It was an “achieve” scrimmage, meaning it will be played like a normal game other than it will not count toward our season record.
Some numbers: Boulton, a 5-9 senior, scored 678 points last season, an average of 28.25 per game. He shot .511 overall and .430 on three-pointers. Brady was 125-137 (,912) from the free throw line. He averaged 4.8 assists and 4.6 steals.
Dane Strong, a 6-1 junior, averaged 7.9 points for last year’s varsity. He pulled down 68 rebounds.
Luke Brennan, 5-9, averaged one assist, one steal and two rebounds per game.
Broox Stockman, 5-10, was a tenacious defender who averaged one point, but 2.7 rebounds. He had 19 assists and 18 steals.
Easton Hudnut, 6-2, averaged 2.8 points and one rebound per game.
Talen Holland, Kaden Latcham and Linkyn Bru appeared in about a third of Montezuma’s 24 games.
SEASON OPENER: At North Mahaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 2. That will be the first girls-boys doubleheader of the season.
NOTE: Braves’ varsity roster still has many candidates, so we’ll publish it at a later date.