The Montezuma Braves controlled tempo and put the squeeze on defensively in a 55-35 victory over BGM at home on Friday evening, Dec. 10.
Three Braves scored in double figures. Meanwhile, Montezuma’s defense held the Bears to .286 shooting from the field.
“We have had a nice start to our season on the defensive end,” Braves Coach Derrick Dengler said.
The Braves extended their record to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Eddie Burgess scored 15 points, Owen Cook came up with 14 and Gavin Strong scored 10 for the Braves.
Burgess had another big game, grabbing 20 rebounds, dishing five assists and blocking three shots.
Montezuma led 15-9 after one quarter, 29-15 at halftime and 46-24 though three periods.
Cook’s 14 points came on six-for-12 shooting from the field.
Masin Shearer had a solid overall game, with 8 points, four assists and 3 steals.
Gavin Strong’s game included 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
“I think our players are figuring out their roles on offense as well,” Dengler said. “I am hopeful that we’ll keep improving as we go through the season.”
BGM fell to 1-3 and 1-3.
UP NEXT – Montezuma’s varsity girls and boys have a big league date on Tuessday, when they host strong North Mahaska teams.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
BGM 9 6 9 11 – 35
MONTEZUMA 15 14 17 9 – 55
MONTEZUMA (55) – Gavin Strong 4-11, 1-2, 1, 10. Masin Shearer 3-11, 0-0, 2, 8. Maguire De Jong 1-4, 0-0, 2, 3. Owen Cook 6-12, 1-2, 0, 14. Eddie Burgess 6-13, 3-4, 1, 15. Max Anderson 1-1, 1-2, 0, 3. Alex Black 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Colton Benson 1-2, 0-0, 2, 2. Camden Michalek 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 22-55, 6-10, 9, 55.
BGM (35) – TOTALS – 14-49, 5-9, 5, 35.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 6, BGM 12.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 5-16 (Shearer 2-6, Strong 1-4, De Jong 1-2, Cook 1-3, Michalek 0-1); BGM 2-17.
Rebounds: Montezuma 34 (Burgess 20, Strong 4, Benson 3, Shearer 2, Anderson 2, De Jong 1, Cook 1, Black 1); BGM 30.
Assists: Montezuma 15 (Burgess 5, Shearer 4, Strong 4, De Jong 1, Benson 1).
Steals: Montezuma 8 (Shearer 3, Strong 1, De Jong 1, Cook 1, Burgess 1, Michalek 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 4 (Burgess 3, Strong 1); BGM 3.