DES MOINES – Montezuma’s Bravettes enter today’s 3:15 p.m. Class 1A state quarterfinals game against Algona Bishop Garrigan knowing they and previous Montezuma teams have earned respect around the state.
But, we’ll speak to that after we tell you how this game’s winner will be decided: By execution, and game-long focus on details. More on grit than sheer talent, in other words.
After all, this is the game between the fourth and fifth seeds, usually expected to be the closest first round matchup.
And it could be. BCMoore Rankings makes Bishop Garrigan a 14-point favorite. That’s a solid endorsement, but hardly overwhelming. In fact, of all the games the Golden Bears have been favored in, that’s the smallest predicted margin of victory for them.
Both teams have grit.
Bishop Garrigan (22-3) plays in a conference loaded with Class 2A and 3A teams. The Golden Bears defeated 10 of the 12 such teams they played.
They lost twice to one of them, conference champion Forest City 69-64 and 63-37, and 76-61 to area Class 1A force Newell-Fonda.
The Bravettes (19-5) have been a top-10 Class 1A fixture all season. They started the season at #7 for several weeks, moved up to #6 where they remained until this week, when the girls union gave them the #5 seed in this group of 8.
Montezuma usually schedules about a half-dozen 2A and 3A teams and this year beat most of them, including number 2 in Class 2A.
Both of these teams are young and aside from two 5-11 girls for the Bravettes and one 6-footer for Bishop Garrigan, they’re relatively short, with girls between 5-4 and 5-6 dominating the rosters.
For the Golden Bears, 6-0 Graclyn Eastman, a sophomore, scores 16.8 points per game and shoots over .500 from the field.
For the Bravettes, 5-11 senior Shiressa Wetering scores 10.9 per game, shoots over .500 from the field, and is a major shot-blocker when the Bravettes go zone.
For Bishop Garrigan 5-6 junior Sacha Alesch scores 13.1 per game and is one of two major three-point shooters. The other is 5-5 junior Emmi Bartolo, who scores 10.3 per game, and averages 4.8 assists.
Montezuma is guard-oriented. Senior Ellen Cook, 5-6, scores 14.6 per game and averages 5.3 assists. Her sister, Vivian, a 5-4 sophomore, scores 12.9 points per game, and is always in range for a trey attempt.
Claire Erselius, 5-6, scores 9.9 per game and gives Montezuma a third dangerous three-point shooter and a long-armed, long-legged and quick defender.
Sophomore Syd Burgess, a rapidly-improving 5-11 sophomore, averages 7.3 rebounds and 5.5 points and is emerging as a shot-blocker.
Sixth girl in the rotation is 5-2 freshman Lauryn Larmore, who is a tough defender and a multi-skilled offensive player.
The Cook sisters are excellent ball handlers. Erselius is a tenacious defender.
And all the Bravettes can be tough rebounders. It’s a matter of game-long focus.