The Montezuma Bravettes played a spectacular first half, held off a Holy Trinity Catholic rally after intermission and beat the Crusaders 60-44 in Montezuma on Friday, Feb. 16.
That will send Montezuma (19-4) to the regional championship game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21. Their opponent there will be 21-2 CAM-Anita. Wednesday’s winner advances to the state tournament in Des Moines.
The Bravettes adhered to the Golden Rule of Sports in the first half: “Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.”
Holy Trinity came in with a reputation for air-tight defense, but the Bravettes fractured it with a 27-5 second quarter which put Montezuma up 40-16 at halftime.
Montezuma went inside to post player Shiressa Wetering for points – six in the first quarter and seven more in the second.
When the Crusaders crowded the inside, the Bravettes shot over the top. They sank eight three-point baskets in the first half and took control of the game.
Behind Wetering’s 13 points, Vivian Cook poured in 12 on four first half treys. Ellen Cook scored 8, Claire Erselius had 3, Jadyn Sharer had three, and Sydnee Burgess scored one.
During the second half, the Bravettes got to work on protecting a big lead. Those two end-of-regular-season games against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and Williamsburg were on the schedule for a reason.
“Our lessons learned from our quality opponents has created an opporunity for us to keep playing,” Coach Janel Burgess said.
Holy Trinity amped up its defense in the second half. Montezuma didn’t bag another trey and gradually the Crusaders clawed back, getting mileage from a 1-2-2 press.
Montezuma led by 25 at one point and Holy Trinity got as close as 12 points in the fourth quarter.
But the Bravettes protected their lead with free throws, including Ellen Cook’s eight-for-eight effort down the fourth quarter stretch.
It was a closely-called game, and Holy Trinity had to manage foul problems along with the inside-outside threat of the Montezuma offensive attack.
“I am so proud of this group’s growth and drive,” Burgess said. “They were so selfless in this game and they played so darn hard.
Wetering scored 18 points for the Bravettes, while Ellen Cook had 16, Vivian Cook had 12 – all on treys – and Claire Erselius scored seven.
Ellen Cook showed her athleticism by grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing 4 assists. She also led the Bravettes with 5 steals.
Wetering was simply a load inside. She was seven-for-seven from the field, and four-for-six from the line. She also had 8 rebounds to lead the Bravettes in that category.
Montezuma shot .421 from the field to Holy Trinity’s .286. The Bravettes outscored the Crusaders 24-0 from behind the three-point arc.
“We are thankful for another opportunity to grow together and practice together!” Burgess said.
Natalie Randolph scored 17 and Mary Kate Bendlage had 16 for Holy Trinity Catholic, which closed out at 21-3 season.
COME BACK LATER for stats and more detail.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Holy Trinity Catholic 11 5 13 15 – 44
Montezuma 13 27 5 15 – 60
MONTEZUMA (60) – Ellen Cook 3-13, 8-8, 3, 16. Vivian Cook 4-11, 0-2, 1, 12. Sydnee Burgess 0-0, 3-8, 2, 3. Claire Erselius 1-3, 4-4, 3, 7. Izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 4, 0. Jadyn Sharer 1-4, 1-2, 1, 4. Jordan Ranfeld 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Shiressa Wetering 7-7, 4-6, 2, 18. TOTALS – 16-38, 20-30, 16, 60.
HOLY TRINITY (44) – TOTALS – 16-56, 12-19, 26, 44.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 21, Holy Trinity 18
Three-pointers: Montezuma 8-24 (V. Cook 4-10, E. Cook 2-7, Erselius 1-3, Sharer 1-4); HTC – 0-8.
Rebounds: Montezuma 34 (Wetering 8, E. Cook 8, team 6, Burgess 3, Roorda 3, Sharer 2, Ranfeld 2, V. Cook 1, Erselius 1); Holy Trinity 38.
Assists: Montezuma 12 (E. Cook 4, V. Cook 3, Sharer 3, Burgess 1, Erselius 1).
Steals: Montezuma 8 (E. Cook 5, Roorda 2, Sharer 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 3 (E. Cook 1, Roorda 1, Wetering 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 3 (Burgess 2, Wetering 1).