BELLE PLAINE – ‘Da defense did it for the Montezuma Bravettes on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at Belle Plaine.
Montezuma won 47-10 over the Lady Plainsmen, who didn’t score their first field goal until 4:04 remained in the third quarter.
The Bravettes were quicker of hand and foot and also went hard to the boards as they built leads of 17-0 after one quarter, 29-1 by halftime, and 42-3 through three quarters.
“We had a very solid defensive effort,” Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess said. “I truly appreciate how we are winning games right now and that is with our defense staying strong even though our shots are not falling. We know this will only make us better as we grow.”
On offense, Montezuma passed around, over and through Belle Plaine’s zone, sometimes passing up an open look to find one closer to the basket.
But, it was a night when two-pointers were not falling well for the Bravettes. Fortunately, they made enough three-pointers to quickly build a comfortable lead.
Montezuma shot just .254 from the field. But, Belle Plaine shot .133, including one-for-10 from three point range.
Ellen Cook was one who was shooting well. She led the Bravettes wtih 15 points on five-for-nine, all but two attempts from behind the arc.
Mia Boulton scored nine points, and Madison Johannes had six.
Shiressa Wetering had eight rebounds and Johannes had six.
The Bravettes took care of the ball with five turnovers, to 24 by Belle Plaine.
Izzy Roorda got a start for Montezuma, and drained an early trey. “Jadyn Sharer has been sick and will return by the end of the week,” Burgess said. “Izzy has been playing very well which is adding to our depth.”
The Bravettes climbed to 11-1 overall and 8-1 in SICL play.
Belle Plaine fell to 2-10 and 1-8.
UP NEXT – The Brasvettes host Tri-County on Friday, Jan. 13.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 17 12 13 5 – 47
Belle Plaine 0 1 2 7 – 10
MONTEZUMA (47)
Madison Johannes 2-11, 0-0, 1, 6. Claire Erselius 1-2, 0-0, 1, 3. Mia Boulton 2-14, 4-4, 0, 9. Jadyn Sharer 0-0, 0-0, 0, 9. Jordan Ranfeld 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0. Laila Kercheval 1-3, 0-0, 0, 3. Ellen Cook 5-9, 0-0, 0, 15. Izzy Roorda 1-2, 0-0, 0, 3. Harlea Pargeon 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Ashlee Eilander 1-4, 0-0, 1, 2. Kallie Robison 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Shiressa Wetering 1-8, 2-2, 0, 4. TOTALS – 15-59, 6-6, 4, 47.
BELLE PLAINE (10)
TOTALS – 4-30, 1-2, 6, 10.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 11-36 (Cook 5-7, Johannes 2-10, Roorda 1-1, Erselius 1-2, Boulton 1-9, Kercheval 1-3, Ranfeld 0-2, Cline 0-2); BP 1-10.
Turnovers: Montezuma 5, Belle Plaine 24.
Rebounds: Montezuma 35 (Wetering 8, Johannes 6, Boulton 4, Ranfeld 4, Robison 4, Roorda 3, Cook 2, Erselius 1, Cline 1, Roorda 1, Pargeon 1); Belle Plaine – 18
Assists: Montezuma 11 (Boulton 5, Cline 2, Johannes 1, Cook 1, Roorda 1, Pargeon 1).
Steals: Montezuma 6 (Cook 3, Johannes 2, Eilander 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 2 (Boulton 1, Roorda 1).