VICTOR – It’s not bitter cold out, but the Montezuma Braves needed a jump start Tuesday night, Jan. 17, in Victor.
The hosting HLV Warriors provided it, taking a 20-19 lead over favored Montezuma after one quarter of play.
The Braves found their rhythm by hitting the Warriors between the eyes with a 29-8 second quarter.
That put Montezuma up by 20 points at halftime of a 78-61 victory.
Freshman guard Brady Boulton led four Braves double figures scorers with 28 points, on 10-for-17 field goal shooting, which included six-of-nine on three pointers.
“I think in that second quarter, there were several keys,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “We played with better effort snd focus defensively,” he said.
“We also adjusted to the foul calls better. HLV got into foul trouble, particularly Landon Hall, their leading scorer. We were able to take advantage by generating turnovers on defense and getting to the line on offense.”
The Braves were whistled for just nine personal fouls on the night, to 20 by the Warriors. The Braves outscored HLV 7-2 from the free throw line.
Masin Shearer scored 18 for the Braves, including four-for-nine on treys. He also had three assists.
Garrett Watts went six-for-ten from the field and scored 15 points.
Owen Cook had a double figures scoring game with 11 points, on four-for-seven shooting which included three-for-four on three-pointers.
The win lifted the Braves to 11-3 overall and to 9-3 in league play.
“We didn’t play our best a times,” Dengler said, “but had enough good runs to finish out the game.”
HLV is 6-8 and 5-7.
UP NEXT – It’s a big one at home for the Braves and Bravettes on Friday, Jan. 20, against Lynnville-Sully.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 19 29 15 15 – 78
HLV 20 8 10 23 – 61
MONTEZUMA (78)
Gavin Strong 2-10, 2-2, 1, 6. Masin Shearer 7-12, 0-0, 1, 18. Garrett Watts 6-10, 3-6, 4, 15. Brady Boulton 10-17, 2-4, 1, 28. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Owen Cook 4-7, 0-0, 2, 11. Kohen Holland 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Max Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 29-57, 7-12, 9, 76.
HLV (61)
TOTALS – 26-48, 2-3, 20, 61.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 12-29 (Boulton 6-9, Shearer 4-9, Cook 3-4, Anderson 0-1, Watts 0-1, Watts 0-5); HLV – 7-18.
Turnovers: Montezuma 13, Montezuma 18.
Rebounds: Montezuma 23 (Strong 4, Watts 4, Boulton 4, Shearer 3, Benson 3, Cook 3, Holland 2); HLV – 18.
Assists: Montezuma 16 (Boulton 4, Shearer 3, Cook 2, Anderson 2, Holland 1, Strong 2, Watts 2).
Steals: Montezuma 10 (Boulton 3, Andeson 3, Strong 1, Shearer 1, Watts 1, Benson 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 3 (Watts 2, Cook 1).