The Montezuma Braves return four seniors – and others – who have major playing experience as they prepare for the basketball season.
That season officially begins Tuesday, Nov. 29, at home against HLV.
Coach Derek Dengler’s team went 18-5 last season.
“Masin Shearer will be in his fourth season as a starter,” Dengler said. “Both Gavin Strong and Owen Cook have been major players on varsity teams going back a couple of seasons,” Dengler said.
“Colton Benson started for most of the season last year.”
Shearer, 5-8, averaged 14.1 points and 4.5 assists.
Strong, 6-1, was an 11.4 per game scorer.
Cook, 6-1, averaged 8.7 points and often defended the opposition’s top scorer. Benson was a 2.1 points per game scorer and also a strong defender.
“Other varsity help will include our juniors, led by Garrett Watts, who is back after being injured for most of last season.” Dengler said.
Watts, 6-2, averaged 1.6 points in very limited action toward the end of last season. But he emerged as a 1,000 yards plus receiver on the football team this fall.
The coach said Max Anderson, now a sophomore, but who played varsity last year, will again contribute, along with 6-2 Kohen Holland and 5-7 freshman guard Brady Boulton.
The Braves aren’t without size, especially in the sophomore class, which includes 6-5 Briar Simpson and 6-4 Peyton Minner.
“We had a good off-season,” Dengler said. “We were fortunate to have several guys who put in quite a bit of work.”
“We’re hoping to put some new pieces together and make some adjustments to account for Eddie Burgess graduating, and compete this year,” Dengler said.
Burgess’ departure left a crater. He averaged 16.7 points and 15.9 rebounds.
Something new this year will be a shot clock. “I don’t think it (the clock) will affect the majority of our play,” Dengler said. “We like to play fast. In big games, it will be a factor; just another thing to work on.”
The South Iowa Cedar League will have some tough “outs” as they say. “North Mahaska returns almost all the key players from a state tournament team,” Dengler said. “Lynnville-Sully has a bunch of guys back from a group that had injuries last year and they will be really, really tough,” the coach said.
UP FIRST – The Braves host HLV on Tuesday, Nov. 29. It’s part of a girl-boy varsity doubleheader.
Braves basketball
Seniors
Masin Shearer
Gavin Strong
Owen Cook
Colton Benson
Juniors
Garrett Watts
Jack Erselius
Alex Black
Jayden Ross
Sammy Boughner
Sophomores
Bryson Stockman
Maddox Anderson
Kohen Holland
David Rose
Briar Simpson
Lars Taylor
Peyton Minner
Freshmen
Brady Boulton
Cade Stone
Broox Stockman
Luke Brennan
Blake Smith