KEOTA – Keota’s opening salvo – a 17-0 start against visiting Montezuma – all but blew the Braves clear over to Harper, a neighboring town.
How the Braves responded – getting in control of themselves and at times, Keota – may have been a turning point in Montezuma’s season.
Montezuma got to within 2 points on a Brady Boulton free throw with 3:30 left in the game – and to within 3 on Kohen Holland’s three-pointer with 1.3 seconds left.
But this huge Montezuma comeback fell short, 55-51, as Keota took its record out to 9-0 on Tuesday, De. 19.
It didn’t look like Montezuma had the weapons to combat the Eagles during first quarter play, when Keota’s pressure defense and strong inside play by Evan Vittetoe – 10 first half points – shot the host team to a 21-3 at the break.
But the Braves shored up their defense and started back. Vittetoe didn’t score in the second half. The Braves wound up scoring 16 points in each of the final three quarters – that’s 48 – while limiting Keota to 34.
The Braves had a golden opportunity to pull off this win after getting themselves in position to shoot bonus free throws about midway through the fourth quarter.
After closing to 46-42 on the scoreboard, the Braves missed on six of nine free throw tries that could have flipped the score had they been made.
Keota is a deep, experienced team with a sizable front line. The Eagles didn’t panic as Monteuzuma got larger in their rear view mirrors. The Braves, a young team, didn’t catch up, but they may in fact been growing as a team in front of a raucous crowd of parents, friends and neighbors.
“I would agree,” Braves Coach Derrick Dengler said.
Guard Brady Boulton scored 20 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. Forward Kohen Holland scored 9 in the second half, 12 in all, and also had 12 rebounds for an impressive double-double.
Garrett Watts played physical, scored 12 points, and snagged nine rebounds. Boulton also had 7 rebounds.
Max Anderson scored 7 for the Braves and added four rebounds.
“Obviously a tough start to the game, but I was pleased with our perseverance to come back and make it competitive in the fourth quarter,” Dengler said.
“I was also really proud of our halfcourt defense against a really good offensive team in Keota,” the coach said. “Defense is one of the areas we have been trying to grow the most, so it was good to see some positive results there.”
Sawyer Stout led Keota with 18 points. Vittetoe did not add to his 10 first half points, but had 9 rebounds, as did Billie Kindred. Cole Kindred scored 11 and had 6 assists.
The Braves fell to 6-2. Montezuma and Keota meet just this once during the regular season. But should their tournament paths intersect, you don’t want to miss it.
Montezuma has a game left before the holiday break – Thursday evening, Dec. 21, in a boys-only JV/varsity doubleheader at Tri-County.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 3 16 16 16 – 51
Keota 21 11 12 11 – 55
MONTEZUMA (51) – Dane Strong 0-3, 0-2, 0, 0. Briar Simpson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Garrett Watts 6-12, 0-4, 4, 12. David Rose 0-1, 0-0, 3, 0. Luke Brennan 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Brady Boulton 6-17, 5-7, 3, 20. Alex Black 0-3, 0-0, 3, 0. Kohen Hollan 4-7, 3-4, 0, 12. Max Anderson 2-6, 2-2, 2, 7. TOTALS – 18-49, 10-19, 16, 51.
KEOTA (55) – TOTALS – 23-69, 7-12, 18, 55.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-atempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 13, Keota 7.
Three-pointers: Monteuzuma 5-23 (Boulton 3-11, Anderson 1-5, Holland 1-4, Watts 0-1, Strong 0-2). Keota: 2-24.
Rebounds: Montezuma 38 (Holland 12, Watts 9, Boulton 7, Anderson 4, Rose 3, Black 2, Simpson 1). Keota: 31.
Assists: Montezuma 6 (Watts 3, Boulton 3).
Steals: Montezuma 4 (Rose 2, Boulton 1, Anderson 1).
Blocks: Montezuma none.
Keota leaders: Sawyer Stout, 18 points; Cole Kindred, 11 points and 6 assists; Evan Vittetoe 10 points, 9 rebounds; Billie Kindred 9 rebounds.