Montezuma’s varsity girls basketball team went 21-4 last season, including 13-1 in the South Iowa Cedar League, who they shared the title with.
What does Coach Janel Burgess’ team do for an encore?
Do it again. Do it even better, perhaps. Keep improving every practice and every game.
What Bravettes basketball did last year has become a habit, a tradition, a legacy during Burgess’ tenure at the school.
Montezuma lost three top players to graduation, including top scorer Mia Boulton, 15.1 ppg., 64 three-pointers and a 79 percent average on free throws.
Madison Johannes scored 6.4 points per game, but a more remarkable figure for a 5-footer was her 3.6 rebounds per game – second on the squad. Plus, she was a lockdown defender.
Also gone is 5-10 post Kallie Robison, a 6.2 scorer but a devastating finisher with a 67 percent field goal average, and 3.3 rebounds per outing.
What’s left? Plenty of experience, some size down low, and a lot of promising young talent.
Heading the returnees are three scorers who averaged just below double figures.
Junior guard Ellen Cook scored 8.8 points per game, and 2.7 assists.
Junior Shiressa Wetering (5-11), scored 8.7 per game, shot 47 percent from the field, and 70 percent from the line. She also led in rebounds at 4.0 per game.
Senior Jadyn Sharer scored 7.2 points a game and shot 42 percent from three-point range.
A key figure will be 5-7 senior Izzy Roorda, who brings athleticism (including jumping ability) to the Bravette lineup. She scored 1.4 points per game and had 1.8 rebounds per contest.
Another returnee, junior Claire Erselius, adds depth in the backcourt. She averaged 2.9 points last season.
Seniors Jordan Ranfeld and Laila Kercheval will add varied skills and experience to the team.
The largest single class representation on the varsity roster are six freshmen, including 5-11 forward Sydnee Burgess.
Look for the Bravettes to press, use different combinations of players, and work hard to generate offense with their defense.
The Bravettes are scheduled to play two non-counting quarters against PCM, starting at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 13, at Lynnville-Sully’s jamboree.
The opening game is Fridqy, Nov. 17, at home against Vinton-Shellsburg.
The Bravettes
Seniors – Izzy Roorda, 5-7 forward; Jadyn Sharer, 5-6 guard; Jordan Renfeld, 5-6 forward; Laila Kercheval, 5-6 forward.
Juniors – Ellen Cook, 5-5 guard; Shiressa Wetering, 5-11 forward.
Sophomore – Claire Erselius, 5-5 guard; Lindsey Henry, 5-7 guard.
Freshmen – Rylee Wolford, 5-0 guard; Vivian Cook, 5-4 guard; Sydnee Burgess, 5-11 forward; Letishia Wilson, 5-6 forward; Mya Smothers, 5-6 forward; Annaleece Kercheval, 5-2 guard.