PELLA – How went Montezuma’s opening night?
It was grand.
Literally.
And just about every which way.
Shateah Wetering scored her 1,000th career point – and 26 others – as the Bravettes put up a 63-40 win over a respected opponent, Pella Christian.
The first official Montezuma game of the season for the state’s top-rated Bravettes was played Tuesday evening, Nov. 26.
Shateah had all kinds of capable help. “I felt like we played very solid throughout the entire game,” said Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess.
The Bravettes shot well (.436 from the field), defended well (Pella Christian shot .364), and rebounded well enough, holding a 26-18 margin.
Wetering scored 27 points on 12-for-18 shooting, “and became the first player in Bravettes five-on-five history to score 1,000 career points,” Burgess said.
Guard Elise Boulton scored 11 points for Montezuma, tied Wetering for team honors in rebounds with six, and led the Bravettes in assists and steals with four of each.
“I was extremely excited about how well we played together on the offensive end,” Burgess said. “We moved the ball well and created open opportunities for each other.”
The Bravettes opened the game with a couple of quick three-pointers, but Pella Christian responded “with some very aggressive drives in the lane,” Burgess said.
“We had a few stretches were our defense needed to tighten up and we found a way to respond,” Burgess said.
Pella Christian continued to attack in the second quarter, resulted in 16 points, their best quarter for the Eagles. Montezuma maintained “a lot of great ball movement,” Burgess said, resulting in 15 points.
The Bravettes held the Eagles to single digit scoring in three of the four quarters.
All but two of the Eagle’s 16 points in the second quarter came during the first five minutes. Burgess said her team’s defense started to come together in the final three minutes of the half.
The Bravettes led 37-24 at halftime, then extended their lead with a 26-16 second half.
“We created some great deflections and turnovers which opened up some nice (scoring) opportunities for each Bravette,” Burgess said.
Dylan Holland finished with seven points for Montezuma. Maddy McKeag had six and Shanae Wetering scored five.
“It was a solid victory that allowed us the opportunity to tune up before we head to Coe College and compete against East Buchanan at 2 p.m. on Saturday,” Burgess said.
East Buchanan was a Class 2A school last season and went 15-7. “And they’re all back,” Burgess said. “We need to know who and what we are,” Burgess said, adding that Saturday’s experience should help Montezuma figure out its various identities.
A SHOT CLOCK – The Bravettes and East Buchanan will play using a 35-second shot clock. It’s an experiment by the girls union, which wants to see how the strong girls teams that play in this eight-game “Rivalry Saturday” event adapt.
UP NEXT – East Buchanan, 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Coe College, located just east of downtown Cedar Rapids.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 22 15 12 14 – 63
Pella Christ. 8 16 7 9 – 40
MONTEZUMA (63) – Maddy McKeag 2-11, 2-4, 1, 6. Shanae Wetring 1-5, 2-2, 1, 5. Kierstyn Price 0-0, 2-2, 0, 2. Mia Boulton 1-3, 0-0, 0, 3. Shateah Wetering 12-18, 2-4, 0, 27. Alyssa Cline 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Elise Boulton 4-11, 0-0, 1, 11. Carissa Van Zee 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. Shelby Conger 1-1, 0-0, 1, 2. Waverly Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Ashlyn Krousie 0-2, 0-0, 0, 0. Dylan Holland 3-4, 1-2, 2, 7. Korinn Kehoe 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 24-55, 9-14, 8, 63.
PELLA CHRISTIAN (40)
TOTALS – 16-44, 5-7, 14, 40.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total point.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 6 (E. Boulton 3, Shan. Wetering 1, M.Boulton 1, Shat. Wetering 1). Pella Christian 3.
Turnovers: Montezuma 12, Pella Christian 12.
Rebounds: Montezuma 26 (E. Boulton 6, Shat. Wetering 6, Conger 3, Holland 3). Pella Christian 18.
Assists: E. Boulton 4, Shat. Wetering 2, Conger 2.
Steals: E. Boulton 4.
Blocks: Shat. Wetering 1.