The Montezuma Bravettes have a spotlight game coming up against North Mahaska.
Before that, though, they’ve got a home contest against Keota on Friday, Jan. 15. That one is important, too.
For this team, the next game always is a spotlight game.
The 13-1 Bravettes (10-0 SICL) ran past an 8-5 Belle Plaine team by an 80-30 score on Tuesday. Keota will bring a 2-7 mark to Montezuma.
“We want to be sure we’re getting better regardless of who we’re playing,” Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess told Chris Varney of KGRN radio. “We have a list of categories we need to improve on.”
Montezuma, the fifth-highest scoring team (63.8) in Class 1A, has the third-best defense (28.4).
“Our defense is a collective unit,” Burgess said. “But, I’d like to do a shout-out for MJ, (Madison Johannes)” Burgess said, “for holding a strong post player from West Marshall to four points.”
That post player is Katy Reyerson, who came in averaging 21 points. She’s six feet tall and made one of just three shot attempts with the 5-foot-3 inch Johnannes on her.
“MJ is our little Rottweiler,” Burgess said.
The American Kennel Club describes Rottweilers as “calm, confident, courageous . . but not unduly aggressive. They can be playful and downright silly, club literature states.
“Our kids understand scouting reports and it’s a group of gritty girls,” Burgess said. “They have the ability to stay locked in for a full possession.”
“Our objective is containment,” Burgess said. “We don’t reach and we don’t press a lot. We want to take (offensive players) out of their rhythm,” she said.
The Bravettes have three girls scoring in double figures, with a fourth pounding on the door, or, should we say, the boards.
Senior Elise Boulton is at 15.8 points per game, shooting at .451 from the field, which includes .402 on three pointers. She also has 5.5 assists per game and an outstanding 3.5/1 assists-to-turnovers ratio.
Sophomore Mia Boulton scores 12.2 per game and averages .439 from the field and .395 from three-point land. She dishes 2.1 assists per game.
Forward Shanae Wetering scores 11.6 per game. She shoots .569 from the field, including .405 on treys, and pulls down 4.9 rebounds per outing.
“I think Shanae will be a great story as time goes on,” Burgess said. “At first, she was figuring out where she fit in.”
But for the want of just two more points over 14 games, post forward Dylan Holland (9.86 ppg) would be the fourth double figures scorer.
She shoots at .567 from the floor and leads the team in rebounds at 9.4 per game.
Regarding Johannes, “there’s not one thing she’s afraid of,” Burgess said. “She is willing to go under the radar to help the team.”
The Bravettes have gained a reputation as a “bombs away” team with their hefty number of three-point attempts each game. “We have three and four girls staying after practice every night to work on their shooting,” Burgess said.
“A lot of good things are coming together for us,” Burgess said. “Yet there is still more that we can do.”
Taylor Kindred, 5-9, averages 12.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and shoots .518 from the field for Keota. The Eagles beat Tri-County and BGM and had a two-point loss to HLV.