NORTH ENGLISH – When the Montezuma Braves play well, it’s almost always the defense that turns the ignition.
That was in the case again in the Braves’ 83-28 win over English Valleys on Friday evening, Jan. 6.
The Braves led 46-19 by halftime as they dominated play.
Montezuma turned over the Bears 25 times, compared with just seven turnovers by the Braves.
That led to 25 more shot attempts by the Braves – and 24 more field goals. Montezuma shot .508 from the field, compared with .225 by the Bears.
Montezuma put four players in double figures, led by Gavin Strong’s 24 points, which came on nine-for-15 shooting. He was three-for-five from behind the arc.
Masin Shearer scored 15 and knocked in seven-of-nine from the field.
Brady Boulton scored 14 points and Garrett Watts had 12.
Montezuma led 21-14 in rebounds with Watts leading with seven.
The Braves assisted 14 baskets. Shearer had five and Boulton, four.
Montezuma made 16 steals, including six by Boulton and four by Shearer.
The win pushed Montezuma to 8-3 overall, which includes a 6-3 record in South Iowa Cedar League play.
The Bears fell to 2-10 and 2-7.
UP NEXT: The Braves and Bravettes are at Belle Plaine on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 26 20 21 16 – 83
English Valleys 9 10 7 2 – 28
MONTEZUMA (83)
Jack Erselius 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. Gavin Strong 9-15, 3-4, 0, 24. Masin Shearer 7-9, 1-2, 3, 15. Garrett Watts 4-13, 4-6, 1, 12. David Rose 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Brady Boulton 5-10, 2-2, 1, 14. Alex Black 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Colton Benson 2-3,1-1, 1, 5. Owen Cook 1-4, 0-0, 0, 3. Kohen Holland 3-5, 0-0, 0, 6. Max Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Jayden Ross 1-4, 0-0, 0, 2. TOTALS – 33-65, 11-15, 8, 83.
ENGLISH VALLEYS (28)
TOTALS – 9-40, 7-10, 11, 28.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 6-19 (Strong 3-5, Boulton 2-4, Cook 1-4, Watts 0-1, Benson 0-1, Holland 0-2, Shearer 0-2); EV – 3-12.
Turnovers: Montezuma 7, English Valleys 25.
Rebounds: Montezuma 21 (Watts 7, Strong 3, Shearer 3, Holland 3, Boulton 2, Rose 1, Anderson 1, Ross 1); EV – 14.
Assists: Montezuma 14 (Shearer 5, Boulton 4, Strong 2, Holland 2, Cook 1).
Steals: Montezuma 16 (Boulton 6, Shearer 4, Strong 3, Erselius 1, Black 1, Cook 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 2 (Strong 2).
Deflections: Montezuma 7 (Shearer 2, Boulton 2, Erselius 1, Black 1, Cook 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 2 (Strong 2).
Deflections: Montezuma 7 (Shearer 2, Boulton 2, Erselius 1, Black 1, Cook 1).