It was the kind of start Coach Derrick Dengler and the Montezuma Braves were aiming for.
The Braves started fast, maintained, and scored a 79-48 home win over North Mahaska Tuesday evening, Dec. 3. It was the season opener for both boys basketball teams.
“We played really well,” Dengler said. “Overall, it was a good night.”
The Braves had three double-figures scorers. Trey Shearer scored 24 points, Cole Watts had 22 and Eddie Burgess scored 14.
Burgess, a 6-4 sophomore, also snapped down 11 rebounds, had five steals and dished a pair of assists.
The Braves jumped out to a 26-12 first quarer lead. “We forced them to take some outside shots,” Dengler said. “They made a few. But we didn’t think they could sustain that over the entire game.”
That proved to be correct.
The Braves really settled in during a 15-8 second quarter.
“We rebounded well and played solid defense, which were points of emphasis for us,” Dengler said.
Montezuma led 41-20 at halftime.
The Braves maintained control with a 25-12 third quarter to pull away to a 66-32 lead.
“Offensively, we were good in transition,” the coach said. “In our half-court offense, we showed signs of life when we attacked downhill. We got some paint touches and penetration.”
Montezuma shot .475 from the field. The Braves also were 14-for-16 from the free throw line.
Montezuma made just eight turnovers, to 21 by the Warhawks, according to the Braves’ charts.
Six different Braves splashed down a total of nine three-point baskets.
UP NEXT: Montezuma is at Colfax-Mingo Friday night, Dec. 6.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
North Mahaska 12 8 12 16 – 48
Montezuma 26 15 25 13 – 79
MONTEZUMA (79): Brydon Henning 2-3, 0-0, 0, 6. Maguire DeJong 0-4, 0-0, 2, 0. Brayden Arendt 2-3, 0-0, 2, 6. Masin Shearer 1-3, 2-2, 4, 5. Connor Van Zee 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Cole Watts 8-14, 4-4, 1, 22. Trey Shearer 9-16, 5-5, 0, 24. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Brody Chidester 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Gavin Strong 1-3, 0-0, 1, 0. Eddie Burgess 5-13, 3-5, 1, 14. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 2,0. TOTALS – 28-59, 14-16, 17, 79.
NORTH MAHASKA (48)
TOTALS: 17-45, 7-15, 17, 48.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: North Mahaska 21, Montezuma 8.
Three-point goals: North Mahaska 7-19. Montezuma 9-27 (Henning 2, Arendt 2, Watts 2, M. Shearer 1,T. Shearer 1, Burgess 1.
Rebounds: North Mahaska 25. Montezuma 28 (Burgess 11, Arendt 4, M.Shearer 3, Cook 3.
Braves steals: Burgess 5, Watts 2.
Braves assists: M.Shearer 3,Arendt 2, T. Shearer 2, Burgess 2.
