You can pore over statistics all you want, but when you play in the state tournament, your focus really needs to be on your own team and excellence.
Having said that, I’ll just stop this preview of Montezuma vs. Saint Ansgar right here. . .
Just kidding. . .about stopping.
Both teams are good, or they wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Fourth-seeded Montezuma (23-1) plays number five Saint Ansgar (21-2), on Wednesday, March 4. Scheduled tip is at 3:15 p.m. in this Class 1A quarterfinals game at Wells Fargo Arena.
The 2006 Braves played the Saint Ansgar boys in playoffs football in the UNI-Dome, you’ll recall. The community is in Mitchell County, close to the Minnesota border.
I have pored over the stats, looking for trends. Here are a few, but keep in mind these teams have no common opponents, so it’s trickier than looking at numbers against familiar teams (which is kind of dangerous in the first place).
The Bravettes get more in-game contributions from more players. University of Iowa recruit Shateah Wetering averages 23.3 points and guard Elise Boulton scores 12.9 per game. After them, five Bravettes are between 3.9 and 7.1 points per game.
Most of Saint Ansgar’s scoring comes from its starting five.
Saint Ansgar is a bit taller, but Montezuma isn’t short. We know the Bravettes are quick, but we have no way to evaluate Saint Ansgar in that category.
The Bravettes are better percentage shooters, but the Saints have more rebounds. (And yes, that may be because they don’t shoot as well. They do appear to be strong on the offensive glass.
Saint Ansgar shoots .391 from the field, including .283 from three-point range. Montezuma’s numbers: .478 and .358.
From the free throw line: Saints .589, Bravettes .703.
Here’s one that might be telling: assists to turnovers ratio. Saint Ansgar has 316 assists to 336 turnovers. Montezuma: 344 assists, 201 turnovers.
Saint Ansgar hoists about five more field goal attempts per game, but Montezuma scores almost 10 more points per contest.
Hali Anderson, a 5-6 junior, for Saint Ansgar, scores 17.0 points per game. She fires at .341 on three-pointers and leads the team with 157 assists and 85 steals.
Brooklyn Hackbart, a 5-11 junior, averages 11.7 points and a smidge over 10 rebounds per game.
Gracie Urbatsch, a 5-10 junior, scores 11.8 points and grabs six rebounds per.
And 6-0 freshman Madison Hillman is a 7.1 per game scorer.
Last year’s Saints team went 16-5, with a lot of sophomores seeing varsity playing time.
This year’s team has one senior, nine juniors, three sophomores and the one freshman.
Be there!
Have fun!!
And make noise!!!