So did North Mahaska win this game, or did Montezuma run out of time, or energy to lift any more three-point attempts?
Maybe some of all three?
The Warhawks prevailed, 76-73, in a key early-season contest on the Braves’ floor on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
North Mahaska forged in front by 11 points through three quarters, only to have the Braves make a serious fourth quarter run at them. Montezuma outscored North Mahaska 21-13 in the fourth, but the rally came up three points short.
The Braves were casting up three-balls – 47 of them in all and 20 of those by senior guard Masin Shearer. He made seven, a .350 percentage, which is decent from behind the arc.
But the Braves in general didn’t shoot that well against the rangy Warhawks defense.
“North Mahaska played a sinking man-to-man defense,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “They have good length, which made it more difficult than normal to attack the rim.”
For the Warhawks, Nash Smith is 6-6, Braden Steel stands 6-4 and Nolan Anderson is 6-3.
“We also have some good shooters, so we want to shoot the three quite a bit,” Dengler said.
Shearer scored 31 points for the Braves, and still had time to lead the team in assists and steals with four each.
Owen Cook reached double figures in rebounds with 11.
Lane Harmon (6-1) scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds for the Warhawks. Anderson scored 1`7 and Smith had 15 points and a dozen rebounds.
Steel had 11 rebounds – and four assists.
Montezuma made it interesting in the fourth, a 21-13 quarter for them. “The boys picked up their defensive intesnstiy and hit some shots,” Dengler said. “I’m very proud of how they battled despite being down.”
Montezuma shot .347 from the field, to North Mahaska’s .475, on 16 fewer atempts.
But the Warhawks put themselves on the line more frequently, and the Braves had to manage some foul problems.
Montezuma fell to 4-2 overall, including a 3-2 mark in league play. North Mahaska is 5-2 and 3-1.
UP NEXT – The Braves and Bravettes are at Sigourney on Friday, Dec. 16,
SCORE BY QUARTERS
North Mahaska 23 16 24 13 – 76
Montezuma 18 18 16 21 – 73
MONTEZUMA (73)
Gavin Strong – 3-14, 2-4, 3, 10. Masin Shearer 12-27, 0-1, 2, 31. Garrett Watts 3-10, 4-7, 3, 10. Brady Boulton 4-14, 1-2, 4, 11. Colton Benson 2-3, 1-2, 0, 6. Owen Cook 1-4, 0-0, 3, 3. Kohen Holland 1-1, 0-0, 1, 3. Max Anderson 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0. TOTALS – 26-75, 8-16, 18, 73.
NORTH MAHASKA (76) – 28-59, 16-19, 15, 76.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 13-47 (Shearer 7-20, Strong 2-7, Boulton 2-10, Holland 1-1, Anderson 0-2, Cook 1-4, Watts 0-3). NM – 4-12.
Turnovers: Montezuma 5, North Mahaska 12.
Rebounds: Montezuma 32 (Cook 11, Watts 7, Shearer 6, Strong 3, Anderson 3, Boulton 1, Benson 1). NM – 37.
Assists: Montezuma 8 (Shearer 4, Strong 1, Watts 1, Benson 1, Cook 1).
Steals: Montezuma 8 (Shearer 4, Strong 3, Watts 1); NM – 1.