One thing you notice right away about Montezuma’s girls basketball team: The ball doesn’t spend much time in any one player’s hands on any given possession.
The Bravettes keep in moving.
That keeps the defense moving. The Bravettes pass inside, outside, back inside, and then, from time to time, they cast up a three-point attempt.
It wears a defense down and out.
The Bravettes used that formula, plus a smothering defense, in a 65-21 run past BGM on Friday evening, Jan. 27 at home.
“We are extremely proud of the growth of our young ladies on both ends of the court,” Coach Janel Burgess said.
Montezuma splashed down 14 three-point baskets in leading 13-1 after one quarter and 36-9 at halftime.
“Our ball movement and understanding of finding the BEST shot for OUR team has been great,” Burgess said.
Ellen Cook and Mia Boulton each scored 18 points for Montezuma, and guard Claire Erselius emerged with 14, aided by 4-for-5 from behind the three-point line.
Boulton’s 18 included 6-for-12 marksmanship on three-pointers.
Post player Shiressa Wetering was the fourth Bravette in double figures with 11, which included 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. She also led her team with 5 rebounds.
On defense, the Bravettes were solid, driving the ball into the wings and cutting down driving and shooting angles. BGM wound up with 23 turnovers, to 7 by the Bravettes.
“We are switching better and we are communicating better,” Burgess said. “We must focus on pursuing the ball as we head down the stretch.”
Montezuma, which shot .421 from the field, limited the Bears to .167 field goal shooting.
The victory lifted the Bravettes to 15-2 overall and to 12-1 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
BGM fell to 5-14 and 2-11.
“I am eager to see what this week presents as we have three very tough games and then a tough one at Grundy Center the following week before the start of post-season,” Burgess said.
UP NEXT – The Bravettes had their scheduled Saturday, Jan. 28 game at Iowa Valley postponed by weather. They’ll try again on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. in Marengo. There will be no JV game and the varsity contest will not count in the SICL standings.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
BGM 1 8 5 7 – 21
Montezuma 13 23 16 13 – 65
MONTEZUMA (65)
Madison Johannes 0-4, 0-0, 1, 0. Ellen Cook 4-7, 0-1, 1, 18. Mia Boulton 6-12, 0-0, 0, 18. Jadyn Sharer 0-5, 0-0, 0, 0. Izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Alivia Cline 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Claire Ereslius 5-6, 0-0, 1, 14. Jordan Ranfeld 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Laila Kercheval 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Harlea Pargeon 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Ashlee Eilander 1-2, 0-2, 0, 2. Kallie Robisn 1-3, 0-0, 2, 2. Shiressa Wetering 4-6, 3-3, 0, 11. TOTALS – 24-57, 3-6, 7, 65.
BGM (21)
TOTALS – 7-42, 4-11, xx, 21.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 14-33 (Boulton 6-12, Erselius 4-5, Ellen Cook 4-7, Johannes 0-3, Sharer 0-4, Clne 0-1, Kercheval 0-1); BGM 3-14.
Turnovers: Montezuma 7, BGM 23.
Rebounds: Montezuma 26 (Wetering 5, Robison 4, Johannes 3, Boulton 3, Eilander 3, Cook 2, Roorda 2, Sharer 1, Cline 1, Erselius 1, Ranfeld 1); BGM 28.
Assists: Montezuma 11 (Johannes 4, Cook 3, Boulton 2, Sharer 1, Wetering 1).
Steals: Montezuma 5 (Erselius 2, Cook 1, Boulton 1, Roorda 1).