MONROE – Its defense was effective for Montezuma against PCM, and the Braves’ offense stayed the course.
The Braves used a third quarter surge to build a lead, then protected it down the stretch in an intense, 56-46 win over the Mustangs on Tuesday evening, Dec. 2.
Guard Masin Shearer stung the strings for 26 points. Post forward Eddie Burgess scored 17 and forward Gavin Strong knocked down 11 as the Braves took their record to 2-0 on the season.
‘I was really pleased with our defense,” said Montezuma Coach Derrick Dengler. “We made them uncomfortable and we mixed in both man to man and zone.”
Montezuma led 25-22 at halftime. Already looking comfortable on defense, the Braves turned up the heat even more in the third quarter.
Shearer scored a layup after a turnover to make it 35-24 with 3:27 left in the period. Burgess then ended an 18-5 quarter for Montezuma with a buzzer-beating three-point bank shot, taking it to 43-27.
“We played without fouling and rebounded very well against a team we were giving up a lot of size to,” Dengler said.
The Braves put some space in their offense during the fourth quarter. But PCM latched on to several cross court passes the Braves threw, and hung around.
The lead got down to 10 before Burgess was goal-tended on a layup that gave Montezuma a 50-38 lead with 2:14 left. After that, the Braves maintained their lead with free throws.
“Offense is going to be work in progress, but the boys have done a nice job of shot selection early in the season,” said Dengler.
Montezuma, which shot just two free throws in its season-opening win over HLV on Tuesday, didn’t shoot any in the first half of this one. But the Braves shot eight of them in the fourth quarter of this game, making five.
The Braves overcame some sloppy passing in the first quarter to lead 16-14 behind 10 points by Shearer. His 26-point scoring game was fueled by five three-pointers.
“We need to continue to tighten up our passing and ballhadling,” Dengler said. “We are turning it over or fumbling the ball more than we could like to.”
Strong had seven of his 11 points during second quarter play.
Burgess took the rock to the rack more in the second half, when he scored 13 of his 17 points.
“I think a couple of guys will settle in and be more effective shooters as the season goes on,” said Montezuma’s coach.
Durant VanDyke, a 6-6 senior forward, led the Mustangs with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Montezuma is 2-0 on the season, while PCM is 1-1.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 16 9 18 13 – 56
PCM 14 8 5 19 – 46
MONTEZUMA (56) – Gavin Strong 5-16, 0-0, 1, 11. Masin Shearer 10-16, 1-3, 0, 26. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. Owen Cook 1-6, 0-2, 1, 2. Eddie Burgess 6-10, 4-4, 3, 17. Max Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Maguire De Jong 0-6, 0-0, 2, 0. TOTALS – 22-54, 5-9, 9, 56.
PCM (46) – TOTALS – 16-45, 7-8, 11, 46.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points).
Turnovers – Montezuma 14, PCM 17.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 7-26 (Shearer 5-10, Strong 1-9, Burgess 1-1, De Jong 0-2, Cook 0-4); PCM 7-23.
Rebounds: Montezuma 33 (Burgess 14, Cook 8, De Jong 4, Strong 3, Benson 2, Shearer 1, Anderson 1); PCM 24.
Assists: Montezuma 10 (Shearer 4, Strong 3, Benson 1, Burgess 1, De Jong 1); PCM 12.
Steals: Montezuma 12 (Strong 4, Shearer 4, Burgess 2, Cook 1, De Jong 1); PCM 9.
Blocks – Montezuma 2 (Strong 2); PCM 5.
PCM leaders: Scoring – Durant Van Dyke 15. Rebounds – Van Dyke 8.
UP NEXT – The Braves resume SICL play Friday night at Lynnville-Sully.