Don’t let Montezuma’s 49-27 win over English Valleys on Jan. 7 lull you into a false sense of security about the Bravettes’ Class 1A regional semi-final game against the Bears on Friday night.
The Bravettes have played some strong games during their 18-4 season. That was one of them.
The Bears tote a 20-3 record into Friday’s game. It hasn’t been a continuing accident. They’re pretty good.
IF YOU’RE GOING – You will need an online ticket. Information is on the school’s website. LIVE STREAM? – Yes! The Blue & White Booster Club has picked up the tab. YOU CAN LISTEN – KGRN and KBOE will have announce teams on hand to broadcast.
That Jan. 7 win also came on Montezuma’s home floor. The Bravettes dominated with defense, holding English Valleys to single digit scoring in all four quarters.
The Bravettes led 23-10 at halftime of that game, and 35-18 through three quarters.
Mia Boulton scored 18 points for the Bravettes and Shanae Wetering had 13.
The Bravettes took care of the basketball, with just 6 turnovers, to 21 by the Bears.
The other two Bears losses were to North Mahaska, 65-25 early in the season, and just 49-42 more recently.
Mia Ayers, a 5-7 senior, is the only double figures scorer for English Valleys with 13.9 points per game. She’s a .465 field goal shooter, who also averages 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Kaely Axmear, a 5-9 senior, averages 8.1 points. She led the Bears with 10 points in the teams’ first meeting, but no other English Valleys player scored more than 5.
Kennedy Axmear, a 5-9 sophomore, averages 7.1 points and 8.6 rebounds for English Valleys.
The Bravettes are outscoring their opponents by 21 points a game, while the Bears have been 14 points a game better than their opposition.
FRIDAY’S WINNER – Advances to the regional championship game on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at a site to be announced.