It’s not every night you’ll see a game where both teams shoot at or over 50 percent from the field.
Grundy Center has the distinction of shooting .537 – and losing to Montezuma by 18 points!
It was Bravettes 73, Spartans 55, on Tuessday evening, Feb. 12.
How could that happen?
Defense.
Yeah, defense. The Bravettes, Class 1A’s stingiest defense, were all over their sharp-shooting Class 2A opponent.
It also happened that Montezuma shot well, too: .500.
The difference was in shots attempted. The Bravettes, now 20-1 on the season, were able to cast up 15 more.
Another difference: Shateah Wetering. Montezuma’s all-stater threw down 35 points. She’s quicker than opponents think. She’s faster, too, and they already know she’s fast.
Wetering was 11-for-13 on two-point field goals, some of which were from point-blank range because she had seven offensive rebounds.
She was four-for-eight from three-point range.
When a 5-11 girl shoots from behind the arc, it looks like a wrecking ball coming in from deep space.
Throw in four assists, a total of 11 rebounds, four steals, three deflections and a block, and you have a NIGHT, and plenty of reasons why the Iowa Hawkeyes are glad she’s in the fold for next year.
Guard Elise Boulton scored 14 points in this one, including going four-for-nine from three-point range. She had time to add a team-high seven assists, three steals and two deflections.
Grundy Center beat Montezuma by 15 points last year when the Spartans went undefeated until losing to Treynor in the Class 2A state championship game.
The Spartans had an all-senior rotation. But it’s a great program, and this year’s girls can shoot it.
“They’re a very solid Class 2A opponent,” said Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess about the 14-7 Spartans.
“Our defense was extremely disciplined and scrappy,” Burgess said.
“I am proud of our total team effort and gritty defensive presence throughout the 32 minutes,” Burgess said.
“Our program is eager to hit post-season and enjoy each step in our journey ahead,” said the coach.
UP NEXT – The Bravettes open regional play at home on Tuesday, Feb. 18, against Baxter.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Grundy Center 14 12 17 12 – 55
Montezuma 21 15 20 17 – 73
MONTEZUMA (73) – Maddy McKeag 2-6, 0-0, 3, 6. Shanae Wetering 2-3, 0-0, 2, 5. Mia Boulton 1-3, 0-1, 0, 3. Shateah Wetering 15-21, 1-1, 1, 35. Elise Boulton 4-10, 2-4, 2, 14. Carissa Van Zee 1-3, 0-0, 1, 2. Shelby Conger 1-5, 1-2, 1, 3. Dylan Holland 2-5, 1-4, 1, 5. TOTALS – 28-56, 5-12, 11, 73.
GRUNDY CENTER (55)
TOTALS – 22-41, 3-5, 9, 55.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 10, Grundy Center 14.
Rebounds: Montezuma 33 (Shat. Wetering 11, Dylan Holland 6, Conger 5, Shan. Wetering 3, M. Boulton 3, Van Zee 2, McKeag 1, E. Boulton 1, team 1); Grundy Center 17.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 12-30 (Shat. Wetering 4, E. Boulton 4, McKeag 1, Shan. Wetering 1, M. Boulton 1); Grundy Center 8-16.
Assists: E. Boulton 7, Shat. Wetering 4, M. Boulton 1, Conger 1.
Steals: Shat. Wetering 4, E. Boulton 2, McKeag 1, Holland 1.
Block: Holland 1.
