Something you REALLY want your favorite team to do in a tournament: Win its last game.
That means you either won the championship – or a consolation game.
Either way, it sends you home on an emotional high, and helps to get your batteries charged next time.
The Montezuma Braves play in one of those consolation games Thursday morning, March 12, against West Fork of Sheffield.
It’s the Class 1A state finals third-place game, scheduled for 10:20 a.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Montezuma played in the third-place game last season, losing 50-49 to Remsen St. Mary’s.
It was an entertaining game, to be sure. But the result was deflating – it kind of made you glad the season was over, rather than being excited about next year.
So, the Braves will need to gather themselves quickly after being low-bridged out of the saddle by Wapsie Valley in Wednesday afternoon’s Class 1A semifinals.
One advantage Montezuma will have: An opportunity to rest for a couple extra hours, having played in the first of two semis on Wednesday.
Like the Braves, West Fork is 24-3. The Warhawks lost by 14 points to Bishop Garrigan, while Montezuma lost its semi by 15 to Wapsie Valley.
This time, the Braves won’t be looking up at towering, snow-capped post players. The Warhawks have four 6-5 guys on their roster, but only one of them sees much action.
This team is guard-driven, will shoot three-balls, and occasionally will take it inside if the defense allows them to.
Top scorer at 14.3 per game is 6-1 junior Kayden Ames. He has dropped in 68 treys at a .417 percentage.
Ian Lathan, a 5-11 senior, has hit 40 from behind the arc, at a .446 clip.
Jakob Washington, a 6-2 junior, scores 12 a game.
The 6-5 inside guy is Brayden Vold, who has an 8.9 scoring average and a .621 shooting percentage.
Cail Weaver, 6-1, averages 6.3 points per outing.
The Warhawks shoot .506 from the field overall, including .386 from behind the arc.
West Fork scores 69 points a game to Montezuma’s 71. Both yield 48 per contest.
WHERE IS WEST FORK? – It’s in Franklin County, along Highway 65, about 75 miles north of Ames. The team plays in the Top of Iowa Conference, where it went 16-1 this season. West Fork has been pretty solid for several years.