The Montezuma Braves threw a defensive net over the Sigourney Savages when they tangled Friday evening, Dec. 17.
Montezuma’s blend of defenses caused Sigourney to shoot just .226 from the field in the Braves’ 67-27 win.
It was an effective bounce back performance for the Braves, who lost their first game of the season Tuesday night to North Mahaska.
Post forward Eddie Burgess scored 23 points and pulled down 16 rebounds as the Braves led start to finish.
Wing forward Gavin Strong enjoyed a breakout game with 21 points and 9 rebounds. His 21 came on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, including four-of-five from three-point range. He also dished four assists.
The Braves led 15-7 after one quarter and 31-17 at halftime. Montezuma outscored Sigourney 36-10 to run off and hide with the result.
Sigourney shot very few uncontested shots.
The Braves controlled tempo with their defense and rebounding. Montezuma’s offense flowed better as the game went on.
Montezuma shot .500 from the field and assisted 21 of 29 made baskets.
“It was nice to get the lid off the basket for a little while,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler.
Montezuma out-rebounded Sigourney 43-24 and shot .500 from the field. The Braves splashed down seven three-point baskets.
Guard Masin Shearer scored seven points and dished eight assists for the Braves.
Forward Owen Cook had eight points and consistently had hands in the faces of shooters, or in Sigourney’s passing lanes.
Maguire De Jong added a noticeable shot of quickness to Montezuma’s defensive effort.
The Braves had little trouble getting the ball into the low post to Burgess from the outset. He scored 15 of his game high 23 points in the first half, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer from right wing just before the halftime buzzer.
The win lifted Montezuma to 6-1 overall, including 5-1 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Sigourney is 4-3 and 3-2.
UP NEXT – Montezuma’s teams host Williamsburg high school teams on all levels starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, kicked off by JV play. The girls varsity is expected to tip at 4 p.m., with the boys to follow.
“We will need great defense, and to take care of the ball a little better against Williamsburg,” Dengler said.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Sigourney 7 10 8 2 – 27
Montezuma 15 16 22 14 – 67
MONTEZUMA (67) – Gavin Strong 8-12, 1-2, 1, 21. Masin Shearer 3-11, 0-0, 1, 7. Maguire De Jong 1-2, 1-2, 0, 3. Owen Cook 4-7, 0-0, 1, 8. Eddie Burgess 11-19, 0-0, 1, 23. Jack Erselius 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Max Anderson 1-2, 0-0, 0, 3. Alex Black 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Colton Benson 1-2, 0-0, 1, 2. Houston VanRoekel 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Jeremy Williams 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Sawyer Tindle 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Cam Michalek 0-2, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 29-58, 2-4, 5, 67.
SIGOURNEY (27) – TOTALS – 12-53, 0-4, 6, 27.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 14, Sigourney 15.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 7-19 (Strong 4-5, Shearer 1-6, Burgess 1-2, Anderson 1-2, Cook 0-2, Black 0-1, Michalek 0-1); Sigourney 3-20.
Rebounds: Montezuma 43 (Burgess 16, Strong 9, Cook 5, De Jong 4, Anderson 2, Benson 2, Tindle 3, Shearer 1, Black 1); Sigourney 24.
Assists: Montezuma 21 (Shearer 8, Strong 4, De Jong 4, Cook 2, Burgess 1, Benson 1, Tindle 1).
Steals: Montezuma 11 (Shearer 3, Cook 3, Burgess 3, Strong 1, Anderson 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 4 (Burgess 3, Cook 1); Sigourney 3.