So, the basketball Braves have a loss.
If they can use it to make themselves a better team, then they’ll be ahead of where they were when Class 2A Albia came to town Monday evening, Jan. 13.
Albia beat the Braves, 58-55 in overtime.
It was known that the Blue Demons (8-1) are a solid team, with three 6-4 players, including point guard Blake Chance, their leading scorer at 14.6 points a game.
The Braves have just one 6-4 player, but play a quick four-guard offense.
Which style is better probably wasn’t settled, but Albia managed to ride out of Dodge with a win on this night.
“Albia controlled tempo late,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler.
“Blake Chance made some tough shots, including three-pointers and drives where he finished at the rim. And, we made a few mental mistakes that allowed guys to get open.”
Albia led 28-20 at the half after a 12-12 first quarter.
Montezuma’s best quarter was the third, when the Braves went on a 22-8 tear to lead 42-36 heading into the fourth.
But Albia had the game tied at 50 at the end of regulation, and outscored Montezuma 8-5 in the overtime.
Trey Shearer scored 25 points for Montezuma and Cole Watts dropped in 20.
“Defensively, we played well. To give up just 50 points to a good Class 2A team is a positive,” Dengler said.
“Offensively, we had stretches where we flowed and looked good. But, Albia did a good job of slowing us down,” the coach said.
The Demons held a 32-27 edge in rebounds. Also, the Braves (7-1) didn’t get the transition points they are accustomed to. Each side made 11 turnovers.
Trey Shearer’s 25 came on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. He also had five assists, three steals, two deflections and a blocked shot.
Watts’ 20 points came on six-for-13 shooting from the field. He made a trio of three-pointers and pulled down seven rebounds.
But Albia’s length on the wings may have been part of the reason freshman Masin Shearer didn’t get as many open looks as he has lately. He was one-for-four from behind the arc.
Eddie Burgess had eight rebounds, blocked four shots for Montezuma, and had three steals and three assists.
Guard Brayden Arendt scored five points for the Braves, but was the only Montezuma player other than Trey Shearer or Watts to score more than one basket.
“We forced some shots,” Dengler said. “But we hope this game was something we will use to improve.”
UP NEXT – The Braves are at Iowa Valley Tuesday evening, Jan. 14.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Albia 12 16 8 14 8 – 58
Montezuma 12 8 22 8 5 – 55
MONTEZUMA (55): Brayden Arendt 2-8, 1-3, 1, 5. Masin Sherar 1-4, 0-0, 2, 3. Cole Watts 6-13, 5-8, 1, 20. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Trey Shearer 10-18, 3-5, 3, 25. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. Eddie Burgess 1-2, 0-0, 3, 2. TOTALS – 20-45, 8-14, 14, 55.
ALBIA (58)
TOTALS: 23-52, 4-9, 16, 58.
Line score legend: Field goals made/attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 11, Albia 11.
Rebounds: Montezuma 27 (Burgess 8, Watts 7, T. Shearer 5, Arendt 3, M. Shearer 2, Cook 1, Team 1); Albia 32.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 7-21 (Watts 3, T. Shearer 2, Arendt 1, M. Shearer 1); Albia 8-20.
Montezuma assists: T. Shearer 5, Burgess 3, Watts 2.
Steals: T. Shearer 3, Watts 2.
Deflections: T. Shearer 2, Arendt 1.
Blocks: Burgess 4, T. Shearer 1.
