VICTOR – It wasn’t entirely expected, but the Montezuma boys basketball team was on “upset alert” through three quarters against HLV on Tuesday evening, Dec. 12.
The Braves, who were 4-1 entering the game to HLV’s 1-4, were a 36-point favorite according to BCMoore Rankings.
Well, you never know. That’s why they play the games.
The Braves won it, 57-47, after the Warriors cut Montezuma’s game-long lead to four points after three quarters.
The Braves’ most productive scoring quarter, 19 points, came in the fourth period and enabled Montezuma to get out of Dodge with a victory.
Just the final number of points tells you that the Warriors were able to slow the pace of play to some extent against the normally fast-paced Montezuma offense.
Montezuma led 17-10 after one quarter and 32-24 at halftime. But, the lead was 38-34 after HLV limited Montezuma to six points in the third period.
“We struggled early from behind the arc,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “HLV stayed in a zone,” he said, “but credit to their guards, who attacked the hoop well,” Dengler said.
The three guys who’ve been carrying the scoring load – Garrett Watts, Brady Boulton and Max Anderson, did again.
This time it was Watts with the big game – 20 points and 10 rebounds, to which he added a team-high 3 assists.
The Braves shot .479 from the field, which included 8-for-28 from three-point range. Fortunately, Montezuma shot enough of them. Anderson canned 4-of-7 and scored 16 points.
Boulton was at 3-for-15 on his way to 16 points.
The Braves made 8 turnovers to HLV’s 14. The Braves also had a 27-24 lead in rebounds.
“A big focus for us will be tightening our defense,” Dengler said.
The win lifted the Braves to 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
The Warriors fell to 0-5 and 1-5.
The Braves host Sigouney on Friday, Dec. 15.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 17 15 6 19 – 57
HLV 10 14 10 13 – 47
Montezuma (57) – Dane Strong 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0. Briar Simpson 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Garrett Watts 9-11, 2-3, 2, 20. David Rose 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. Luke Brennan 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Brady Boulton 6-19, 1-2, 1, 16. Alex Black 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Kohen Holland 1-4, 0-0, 2, 3. Max Anderson 6-10, 0-0, 2, 16. TOTALS – 23-57, 3-5, 11, 57.
HLV (47). TOTALS – 18-47, 4-9, 6, 47.
Line score legend: Field goals made/attempted, free throws made/attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 8-28 (Boulton 3-15, Anderson 4-7, Holland 1-3, Strong 0-1, Watts 0-1, Rose 0-1). HLV 7-27.
Rebounds (27) – Watts 10, Boulton 4, Holland 4, Andeson 4, Black 3, Simpson 1, Brennan 1. HLV (24).
Assists (7) – Watts 3, Strong 1, Rose 1, Boulton 1, Anderson 1.
Steals (9) – Boulton 4, Holland 2, Strong 1, Watts 1, Anderson 1.
Blocks – (1) – Holland.
Turnovers – Montezuma 8, HLV 14.