The Montezuma Braves can go on scoring runs and when they do, it can undo hard work by their opponent.
A 13-0 Braves run late in the first half, and a 15-0 burst to start the fourth quarter helped propel the Braves to an 83-51 win over an improving Iowa Valley team Friday evening, Jan. 8, at home.
The Tigers came in at 7-3 overall. They worked hard to protect the rim on defense, and tried to get to the rim when they had the ball.
They had some success. Trouble was, the Braves had Trey Shearer (29 points), Cole Watts (23) and Eddie Burgess (12).
When Iowa Valley closed a little on a game-long Montezuma lead, one of those three had the ball in their hands with a good look at the basket.
The Braves led 22-8 after one quarter, then missed some contested jump shots. The Tigers got to within 10, then the 13-point run pushed the lead to 37-14 with 1:48 left in the first half. It was 42-18 at the break.
The Braves weren’t penetrating as Iowa Valley went on an 8-4 run to open the third quarter. The Tigers closed it to 44-26 – a good but not really comfortable lead for the Braves. Trey Shearer and Cole Watts stepped up with three-pointers, and Montezuma led 61-40 through three quarters.
Then, the Braves went on their 15-0 tear to start the fourth quarter, and it was game over with a continuous clock in effect.
Cole Watts and Trey Shearer each made four three-point baskets for the Braves, who made 10 treys in all.
Burgess, in his second game of the season, again produced a quick 12 points and helped to give Montezuma control of the defensive boards while he was in.
The win lifted the Braves to 9-2 overall and 8-1 in the South Iowa Cedar League.
UP NEXT – The Braves are at Belle Plaine on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
FANS ARE NOW ALLOWED to attend the games in person in Iowa.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Iowa Valley 8 10 22 11 – 51
Montezuma 22 20 19 22 – 83
MONTEZUMA (83)
Cam Johnson 2-3, 1-1, 4, 5. Masin Shearer 1-4, 0-0, 3, 2. Cole Watts 7-12, 6-6, 0, 23. Trey Shearer 12-19, 0-0, 1, 29. Owen Cook 2-4, 0-0, 0, 5. Garrett Watts 0-0, 0-0, 0,0. Maguire De Jong 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Gavin Strong 2-7, 0-0, 1, 5. Eddie Burgess 6-8, 0-0, 1, 12. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 3, 0. Camden Michalek 0-0, 0-0, 0,0. Ryan Cheney 1-2, 0-0, 0, 2. TOTALS – 33-59, 7-7, 13, 83.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Iowa Valley 12, Montezuma 12.
Rebounds: 26 (C. Watts 10, T. Shearer 10, Cook 5, Burgess 5, Johnson 2, Cheney 2, Strong 1, Kercheval 1).
Three-point goals: 10-24 (T. Shearer 5-9, C. Watts 3-5, Cook 1-3, Strong 1-6, Johnson 0-1).
Assists: 20 (C. Watts 7, T. Shearer 5, Burgess 3, Johnson 2, M. Shearer 2, De Jong 1).
Steals: 17 (M. Shearer 6, Burgess 3, C. Watts 3, T. Shearer 2, Cook 1, Strong 1, Michalek 1).
Blocks: 2 (Johnson 1, T. Shearer 1).