NORTH ENGLISH – At English Valleys, the Braves were faced with a previously unbeaten team with a couple of effective front court players.
The Braves made a first quarter change in this game after the Bears hung tough for a while with scores off dribble drives and entry passes into the low post. The Bears trailed after one quarter, but only by 16-9. But this Friday, Dec. 12 game went up tempo and to the Braves, 77-55.
During the first period, Montezuma Coach Derrick Dengler ordered up a zone defense, with 6-foot-4 freshman Tommy Heemstra in the middle of it.
The move made the Bears’ dribble drives and post entry passes more difficult immediately.
It also allowed other Braves’ players to employ more of their arsenals.
The up-tempo pace seemed more suited to Montezuma’s personnel.
Sophomore forward Talen Holland had a big game – 17 points and 14 rebounds. Junior forward Dane Strong had 14 points and eight rebounds.
Senior guard Brady Boulton didn’t have his best shooting night (9-for-25), but still led the Braves with 26 points. He helped in other ways: 7-for-9 shooting from the line, as well as six assists and six steals.
Heemstra, who is quick off the floor and an excellent leaper, scored 10 points and had 9 rebounds, to just miss his first double-double to go along with his first varsity game in double figures.
The freshman also blocked four shots, which just may have been the single most important stat in the game.
The Braves also got some key plays from Brooks Wilson. Easton Hudnut also was in on key plays when the Braves were pushing on offense and pounding the defensive boards.
Montezuma led 37-29 at halftime and 58-39 through three quarters.
Broox Stockman was his usual menacing self on defense, and contributed 7 rebounds as the Braves grabbed or ran down 44 missed shots in all.
The Braves went to 4-0 in conference play and to 4-1 overall.
English Valleys is 3-1 overall.
Montezuma (77): Dane Strong 5-20, 3-4, 3, 14; Easton Hudnut 2-3, 0-0, 1, 6; Talen Holland 6-10, 5-8, 2, 17; Brady Boulton 9-25, 7-9, 1, 26; Broox Stockman 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0; Brooks Wilson 1-3, 0-0, 2, 2; Aidan Chidester 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0; Linkyn Bru 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2; Tommy Heemstra 4-7, 2-4, 1, 10; Breyer Chidester 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 28-71, 17-25, 11, 77.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throw made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 16 21 21 19 – 77
English Valleys 9 20 9 17 – 55
Turnovers: 8
Three-pointers: 4-18 (Hudnut 2-3, Strong 1-6, Boulton 1-8, Wilson 0-1).
Rebounds: 44 (Holland 14, Strong 8, Stockman 7, Heemstra 9, Wilson 2, Hudnut 1, Chidester 1, Boulton 2.
Assists: Boulton 6, Strong 1, Stockman 1, Wilson 1.
Steals: 14 (Boulton 6, Holland 3, Stockman 2, Wilson 2, Strong 1).
Blocks: 7 (Heemstra 4, Strong 1, Holland 1, Boulton 1).