COLFAX – Whatever Colfax-Mingo threw at Montezuma, the Braves had an answer – and then some.
Quick, scrappy, and three-point shooting Colfax-Mingo hit the Braves hard in the first and third quarters. Montezuma fired back in the second and fourth, when the Braves outscored the Tigerhawks by 13 points, the final margin in a 63-50 Braves victory.
Eddie Burgess poured in 27 points for the Braves, and grabbed 17 rebounds. On defense, his area near the basket was a ‘no fly zone’ for the Colfax-Mingo offense: Burgess had nine steals.
The win kept Montezuma unbeaten on the season (4-0) and in South Iowa Cedar League play (3-0). The game was played Tuesday evening, Dec. 7.
“I think our defense has carried us early in the season,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “I think we have out-rebounded our opponents and for the most part, forced them into difficult shots.”
Montezuma’s quick-flowing zone challenged the Tigerhawk shooters, and Burgess gave the Braves control of the defensive board in the first half, which ended with Montezuma leading 31-23.
The Braves’ defense jumped the passing and driving lanes between the circles. Montezuma helped to force 25 Colfax-Mingo turnovers.
But Burgess had his foot stepped on – for the second straight game – just a minute into the third quarter. He sat out two minutes, long enough for the Tigerhawks to start a run.
Colfax-Mingo got to within one possession of tying the score, but with Burgess back in, the Braves settled back in a bit.
Montezuma passed the ball crisply, and Burgess was on the receiving end of passes inside. He produced 12 points after returning to the lineup.
Montezuma shared the wealth. Gavin Strong knocked down a pair of treys on his way to a 10-point second half.
Strong scored 18 points for the game, on 7-for-12 shooting. Masin Shearer added 13.
Shearer hit two from behind the arc in an eight-point second half.
The Braves pushed their lead to 45-39 after three quarters, and had it out to 61-45 with 2:28 left to play.
“Eddie was the catalyst on offense and played a great game,” Dengler said. “We hope to continue to improve our ballhandling and hope our shooting comes around. If so, I think we will be pretty tough.”
Colfax-Mingo is 1-3, including 0-3 in league play.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts BGM on Friday, Dec. 10.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
MONTEZUMA 10 21 14 18 – 63
Colfax-Mingo 10 13 16 11 – 50
MONTEZUMA (63) – Gavin Strong 7-12, 2-3, 3, 18. Masin Shearer 5-15, 0-0, 3, 13. Maguire De Jong 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0. Owen Cook 1-4, 0-0, 1, 2. Eddie Burgess 12-20, 3-5, 0, 27. Max Anderson 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Colton Benson 1-5, 1-1, 2, 3. TOTALS – 26-59, 6-9, 10, 63.
COLFAX-MINGO (50) – TOTALS – 20-43, 0-2, 9, 50.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points
Turnovers: Montezuma 14, Colfax-Mingo 25.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 5-24 (Shearer 3-9, Strong 2-6, De Jong 0-2, Cook 0-3, Burgess 0-1, Anderson 0-1, Benson 0-2); Colfax-Mingo 10-17.
Rebounds: Montezuma 26 (Burgess 17, De Jong 4, Cook 2, Benson 2, Andeson 1); Colfax-Mingo 26.
Assists: Montezuma 16 (Shearer 6, Strong 3, Cook 3, Burgess 2, Anderson 1, Benson 1); Colfax-Mingo 15.
Steals: Montezuma 18 (Burgess 9, Shearer 6, De Jong 2, Strong 1); Colfax-Mingo 11.
Blocks: Montezuma 1 (Burgess); Colfax-Mingo 1.
Colfax-Mingo leaders: Scoring Cael Bracewell 12; Rebunds – Brandon Kite 8.