DES MOINES – Of all the remarkable statistics from Montezuma’s 49-35 semifinals win over Grand View Christian, perhaps the most amazing was points in the paint: Montezuma 32, Grand View 6.
Stunning, when you consider the Thunder had Daniel Tobiloba, a 6-11 sophomore, playing the role of human fly swatter in the middle of its defense.
Still, the Braves attacked the rim – and Tobiloba.
“We wanted to take it right at him,” the Braves’ Trey Shearer told Jeff Johnson of The Cedar Rapids Gazette.
“I don’t think it was something he (Tobiloba) expected out of us,” Shearer continued. “Cole Watts and I have seen kids at the AAU level just as big as him, just as lengthy and athletic as him. We were not scared of him.”
The Braves took control of this game during the third quarter. After they got the lead, they put the ball in the hands of their ballhandlers, and truth be told, they’re all good ballhandlers.
It’s a versatile and experienced Montezuma team.
Two other telling numbers were the Braves’ leads of 12-0 on fast break points, and 10-0 lead in points off turnovers.
Eddie Burgess led all rebounders with 15, with 13 of them coming off the defensive glass. He scored seven points, but all came during the second half as he made himself available for dump passes after teammates had started drives. And, he finished. The Braves said they noticed that Tobiloba backed off a bit after Trey Shearer drew the second personal foul against him during first half play.
The Braves held Grand View Christian to single digit scoring in all four quarters.
So now, it’s on to a state championship game, the first for Montezuma since 1990.
Points in the paint: Montezuma 32, Grand View 6.
Points off turnovers: Montezuma 10, Grand View 0.
Second chance points: Montezuma 4, Grand View 10.
Fast break points: Montezuma 12, Grand View 0.
Bench points: Montezuma 0, Grand View 2.
Score tied: 4 times.
Lead changed: 5 times
Largest lead: Montezuma by 14, :23 4th quarter. Grand View by five, 5:22 first quarter.
Montezuma led for 21:53. Grand View led for 8:00. Game was tied for 2:06.