By Keith Brake
Montezuma Magazine Editor
GARWIN – Some numbers can leave you shaking your head in wonder.
Example: Montezuma’s Brady Boulton poured in 35 points to lead his team to a 76-63 non-conference win over Green Mountain-Garwin on Thursday evening, Dec. 7.
But the attention-getter there: He did it without making a three-point basket!
Boulton rolled to the basket and finished at the rim, or passed to open cutting teammates. The Braves, tied at 33-33 at halftime, outscored the Wolverines 43-30 after intermission.
Another number that makes you sit up an take notice: 28, the number of rebounds the Braves’ Broox Stockman pulled down in the JV team’s 70-25 victory in the preliminary game. Like the pitchman in the dental insurance commercial says, “That’s a lot!”
Montezuma (3-1), has totally reversed the negative momentum it had going after losing to Lynnville-Sully in the season opener. They could get things really cooking Friday night, Dec. 8, when they play a 2-1 Colfax-Mingo team at home. “GMG had a nice team, with several good guards,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “I thought we made it much tougher in the second half, although they had some guys step up and make some threes. Overall, we did enough to get it done.”
The Wolverines splashed down 12 three-point baskets in this game. They were spot-up shooters and their teammates were patient in making the extra pass that found them open.
During the second half, the Braves jammed that extra pass at times, and Montezuma immediately jumped out in front – by as many as nine points late in the third quarter.
But the Wolverines kept making the extra passes and got hot from behind the arc again. Montezuma’s lead was 50-47 through three quarters.
Boulton was driving and dishing, or taking the ball to the rim himself. He passed ahead to Max Anderson for a layup-and-one which put the Braves up 60-49 with 5:30 left in the game.
Montezuma maintained the offensive pressure throughout the second half and outscored GMG 26-16 to pull away to a hard-earned win.
Playing this non-league game may have been a good idea, especially is the state were to send the Braves north for the playoffs this season.
Garrett Watts drove to the basket and scored 12 points. Kohen Holland hit from inside and out and scored 13.
Max Anderson also hit for 13.
The Braves are 3-1 heading into Friday night’s home game against Colfax-Mingo.
GMG is 2-2.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 15 18 17 26 – 76
GMG 18 15 14 16 – 63