The Montezuma Braves basketball team proved last year that really good things can explode from comparatively small packages.
A lightning offense, a hot, sweaty and clinging defense plus surprising rebounding power helped the team carve out a 22-3 record and fourth place in the Class 1A state tournament.
Much of that firepower returns this year.
This year’s edition of the Braves won’t be casting long shadows across the court, either.
“We lost a lot of our rebounding, so that will be a big focus for our team to improve this season,” said third-year Coach Derrick Dengler.
“We also lost some length, so improving our defense will be a focus as well,” the coach said.
But, “we are excited to start the season,” Dengler added.
The Braves return three returning starters – guards Trey Shearer and Brayden Arendt, and post forward Eddie Burgess. Forward Cole Watts returns, too, after giving the Braves a big lift into the post-season despite not playing about the first two-thirds of the campaign.
Shearer, a 5-10 junior, has already committed to Truman State in Missouri. He scored 22.4 points per game last season and shot .496 from the floor, including .402 from behind the three-point arc.
He also got himself to the line 109 times and shot a .743 percentage. He helped others, too, with 109 assists.
During the season, the all-state tournament selection set a school single game scoring record with 49 points.
Arendt is a 5-8 senior who scored 5.6 points a game, but went on scoring runs from time to time. He had 60 assists and 49 steals.
Burgess was one of those 6-1 players from a year ago who is 6-4 now and Montezuma’s tallest.
He averaged 3.6 points and was a .494 shooter, but he was critical as a defensive enforcer, rebounder and passer.
Burgess grabbed 113 rebounds, had 59 assists and 44 steals.
Watts, 5-10, was spectacular when he popped back onto the scene late last season. He averaged 11.8 points per game was was a 39 percent three-point shooter. He, too, got himself to the line, where he shot a 70 percent average.
“All of them will have to continue to grow and probably shoulder more of the offensive load,” Dengler said about Shearer, Arendt and Burgess.
“Cole (Watts) is back and healthy and played really well down the stretch for us,” Dengler said. “So, we hope he can take a step forward as well.”
“The other spots are up for grabs, but we have a good group of guys who have been working hard,” Dengler said.
The Braves have 23 players on the high school roster.
“Depth is always a concern, but our overall numbers are good,” the coach said. “We have a good group of guys who have been working hard.”
The South Iowa Cedar League should be a challenge for the Braves – who may be up to it.
“On our (western) side, I think BGM and Lynnville-Sully both look to be solid this year,” Dengler said.
“Colfax-Mingo returns a 20-point scorer, I believe. North Mahaska and HLV return a lot and are looking to take the next step forward,” said the coach.
“On the other (eastern) side, I think Keota has high expectations as they return most of their scoring,” said Dengler.
UP AND COMING – Montezuma has a scrimmage at West Marshall at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25. The Braves host a jamboree on Friday, Nov. 29, starting at 6 p.m. The season opener is Tuesday, Dec. 3, a girls-boys doubleheader at home against North Mahaska, starting at 6 p.m.
Braves Basketball
Seniors
Brayden Arendt
Brody Chidester
Juniors
Trey Shearer
Cole Watts
Joey Kercheval
Brydon Henning
Cameron Johnson
D.J. Shoemaker
Sophomores
Jack Brenner
Eddie Burgess
Ryan Cheney
Jacob Hutchcraft
Kody Latcham
Camden Michalek
Sawyer Tindle
Connor Van Zee
Keaton Stokoe
Freshmen
Masin Shearer
Maguire DeJong
Gavin Strong
Owen Cook
Colton Benson
Andrew Bryan