DES MOINES – While a blizzard raged outside Wells Fargo Arena, the Bravettes ran into a road grater (snow plow?) in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A state basketball tournament on Wednesday, March 5.
Algona Bishop Garrigan was technically proficient in most categories, and beat the Bravettes 69-31.
Defense was the key for the Golden Bears, who had Montezuma’s offense surrounded from the get-go.
Bishop Garrigan pressed full court and trapped Montezuma players on the sidelines repeatedly, forcing turnovers – 19 in all.
Meanwhile, when the Bravettes did get set up, they had trouble finding open looks, especially on three-pointers, which are an important part of Montezuma’s offense.
Bishop Garrigan led 16-8 after one quarter, then went on a 23-6 tear in the second. It was 39-14 at halftime.
The situation induced Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess to burn her fourth time-out just over a minute into the third quarter.
Bishop Garrigan made it a continuous clock with its first basket of the fourth quarter.
Quickness and anticipation on the defensive end kept Bishop Garrigan defenders – often two at the same time – close to the ball the entire game.
The Bravettes kept working, finally getting into an offensive rhythm in the third quarter. Montezuma scored 12 points in the period, its best of the game.
Shiressa Wetering scored 11 points and had 6 rebounds for Montezuma.
Ellen Cook added nine points and had 5 rebounds for the Bravettes, who reached the state tournament for the sixth time in the last eight seasons and the 17th time overall.
Bishop Garrigan got contributions up and down its lineup, starting with Zoe Montag, who scored 16 points, hit four 3-pointers and made three steals.
Sophomore post Graclyn Eastman added 12 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman Madelyn Tigges had 11 points, five rebounds and two assists and junior Emmi Bartolo talled 10 points and 6 assists.
The Saintes racked up 12 steals in building a 26-7 edge in points off turnovers. They out-rebounded Montezuma 38-22 and held the Bravettes to 29.3 percent shooting.
The Bravettes had thrived on its perimeter shooting during the season, but went 1-for-15 from beyond the arc in this game.
Montezuma never led in the game. The game was tied for 1:01.
Bishop Garrigan outscored the Bravettes 28-18 from in the paint, 26-7 off turnovers, 13-0 on second chance points, 6-0 on fast break points, and 11-3 on bench points.
The Bravettes closed a 19-6 season.
Bishop Garrigan, which has just one senior on its roster, improved to 23-3 in moving into Friday’s semifinal matchup against Council Bluffs St. Albert.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Bishop Garrigan 16 23 20 10 – 69
Montezuma 8 6 12 5 – 31
MONTEZUMA (31): Ellen Cook 4-16, 0-0, 2, 9; Vivian Cook 0-1, 2-2, 2, 2; Syd Burgess 1-2, 0-0, 2, 2; Claire Erselius 1-6, 2-2, 1, 4; Shiressa Wetering 5-10, 1-2, 3, 11; Lindsey Henry 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Lauryn Henry 0-3, 0-0, 0, 0; Ryanne Williams 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Sophia Semprini 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Mya Smothers 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Letisia Wilson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Alexa Rose 1-3, 1-1, 0, 3; Khloe Krouse 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 12-41, 6-7, 9, 31.
BISHOP GARRIGAN (69): TOTALS 24-54, 13-17, 13, 69.
LINE SCORE LEGEND: field goals attempted-made, free throws attempted-made, personal fouls, total points).
Three-pointers: Montezuma 1-15 (E. Cook 1-6, V. Cook 0-1, Erselius 0-3, Larmore 0-3, Rose 0-2). BG 8-22.
Turnovers: Montezuma 19, BG 12.
Rebounds: Montezuma 22 (Wetering 6, E. Cook 5, Burgess 4, team 3, Erselius 2, V. Cook 1, Williams 1). BG 38.
Assists: Montezuma E. Cook 2, V. Cook 1, Erselius 1) BG 14.
Steals: Montezuma 6 (V. Cook 2, Erselius 2, E. Cook 1, Burgess 1); BG 12.
Blocks: Montezuma 2 (Burgess 1, Wetering 1). BG – 1.