MONTEZUMA – How do you prevail against one of the best defenses in the state?
The answer for Montezuma was by shooting over it.
The Bravettes bombed in 12 three-point baskets – 36 of their 53 points – and brought down North Mahaska 53-45 in a physical battle Friday evening, Jan. 24.
The Warhawks came in as the second-ranked team in Class 2A while the Bravettes were ranked seventh in Class 1A.
Among 2A teams, North Mahaska’s average defensive yield of 29 points a game ranked first.
Shooting wound up being of key importance in this game. The Bravettes shot .436 from the field (18-for-37), while the Warhawks were 18-for-60, for .300.
Most shots taken in this game were challenged, especially anything taken in the lane area.
Each team made 18 baskets and five free throws. But the Bravettes led 12 to 4 in three-pointers.
Junior guard Claire Erselius scored 18 points for Montezuma on 6-for-8 shooting, all from behind the arc.
Ellen Cook scored 14 and Vivian Cook had 9.
Sydney Anderson scored 20 points for North Mahaska and Breckyn Schilling had 13.
Schilling and Andersen each grabbed 5 rebounds and Aly Steil had 6 assists.
The loss was only the second for North Mahaska, whose other setback was to top-rated Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.
BCMoore Ranking had North Mahaska as a 9.35-point favorite coming in.
Montezuma moves to 11-4 with the win, which was probably their high water mark for the season – so far.
North Mahaska fell to 14-2.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
North Mahaska 5 11 12 17 – 45
Montezuma 14 2 20 17 – 53
MONTEZUMA (53) – Ellen Cook 4-12, 4-4, 0, 14; Vivian Cook 3-9, 0-0, 2, 9; Syd Burgess 2-5, 0-0, 1, 4; Claire Erselius 6-8, 0-0, 2, 18; Shiressa Wetering 2-2, 1-2, 4, 5; Lauryn Larmore 1-1, 0-2, 0, 3. TOTALS – 18-37, 5-8, 9, 54.
NORTH MAHASKA (55) TOTALS – 18-60, 5-10, 19, 45.
LINE SCORE LEGEND: – field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 12-24 (Erselius 6-8, V. Cook 3-8. E. Cook 2-6, Larmore 1-1, Burgess 0-1); NM – 4-22.
Turnovers: Montezuma 13, North Mahaska 9.
Rebounds: Montezuma 20 (E. Cook 6, Wetering 6, Burgess 3, Erselius 2, Larmore 2, V. Cook 1); NM 22.
Assists: Montezuma 10 (E. Cook 5, V. Cook 3, Burgess 2. NM – 11.
Steals: Montezuma 3 (E. Cook 1, Burgess 1, Larmore 1); NM 8.
Blocks: Montezuma 4 (Burgess 3, E. Cook 1); NM 2.
North Mahaska leaders
Scoring – Sydney Andersen 20, Breckyn Schilling 13.
Rebounds – Schilling 5, Andersen 5.
Assists – Aly Steil 6.