The Montezuma Bravettes blended a lot of elements – passing, defense, three-point shooting and good late-game free throwing – into a 68-49 win over a good Collins-Maxwell team on Friday, Feb. 21 at home.
It was a regional semifinal game, and sends the 22-1 Bravettes into the title game against 20-4 Springville on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at West High in Iowa City. At stake: A trip to the state finals.
Junior guard Elise Boulton, who missed the previous game because of illness, came back with renewed energy. She bombed in 33 points, including a school-record nine three-pointers.
Montezuma isn’t afraid to shoot the three – 38 of its 49 shot attempts in this game were from behind the arc. Good passing helps the Bravettes get the ball to open teammates in position to shoot.
“Our offensive ball movement continues to be very positive,” Coach Janel Burgess said. The Bravettes assisted 14 of their 18 made baskets.
“We are taking care of the ball well while sharing the ball. That is solid basketball,” the coach said.
The Bravettes made just eight turnovers, to Collins-Maxwell’s 23, and that was a factor in the game.
The Bravettes led 16-14 after one quarter, but really got into the flow during a 17-5 second period which left Montezuma up 33-19 at the half.
Forward Reagan Franzen, a 5-11 junior, was a force for the Spartans. She scored 26 points, but her team couldn’t cut into Montezuma’s margin during a 14-14 third quarter.
“Our defense was very solid, with many long possessions of active defense,” Burgess said.
Each team made 18 baskets. But while the Bravettes sank 15 from behind the arc, Collins-Maxwell attempted just six from back there, making two.
The Spartans had to foul late, and the Bravettes maintained and extended their lead by going 14-for-16 from the line during the final 2:38 of play. Elise Boulton (6-6) and Conger (7-8) were the drivers of that surge from the line.
Elise Boulton was nine-for-16 from behind the arc and three-pointers were the only shots from the field she attempted.
Shateah Wetering scored 19 for the Bravettes, had four rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots.
Conger was the third Bravette into double figures with 10 points. She had three assists and three steals, and gave as well as she took in what at times was a physical game.
Guard Maddy McKeag scored just one trey in this game, but was active with four rebounds, two assists, five steals and three deflections.
Dylan Holland scored three points, grabbed four rebounds, and maintained a presence on the inside for Montezuma.
Shanae Wetering led Montezuma rebounders with five – all off the offensive glass, which gave the Bravettes important second chances.
Alexis Hogue backed Franzen’s 26 with 11 points for the Spartans, who closed out a 19-5 season.
“We look forward to playing against a traditional powerhouse in Class 1A girls basketball in the state of Iowa Wednesday night!” Burgess said.
UP NEXT – Montezuma (22-1) faces Springville (20-4) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at West High School in Iowa City.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Collins-Maxwell 14 5 14 16 – 49
Montezuma 16 17 14 21 – 68
MONTEZUMA (68) – Maddy McKeag 1-9, 0-0, 4, 3. Shanae Wetering 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Kierstyn Price 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Mia Boulton 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Shateah Wetering 6-16, 3-6, 0, 19. Alyssa Cline 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Elise Boulton 9-16, 6-6, 1, 33. Carissa Van Zee 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Shelby Conger 1-5, 7-8, 4, 10. Waverly Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Madison Johannes 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Dylan Holland 1-1, 1-2, 4, 3. Madelyn DeJong 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 18-49, 17-22, 13, 68.
COLLINS-MAXWELL (49)
TOTALS – 18-32, 11-12, 19, 49.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 8, Collins-Maxwell 23.
Rebounds: Montezuma 24 (Shan. Wetering 5, McKeag 4, Shat. Wetering 4, Holland 4, Conger 3, E. Boulton 1, team 3); Collins-Maxwell 22.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 15-38 (E. Boulton 9-16, Shat. Wetering 4-10, Conger 1-3, McKeag 1-8, M. Boulton 0-1); Collins-Maxwell 2-6.
Assists: Shat. Wetering 5, Conger 3, McKeag 2, M. Boulton 2, E. Boulton 1, Van Zee 1.
Steals: McKeag 5, E. Boulton 4, Conger 3, Shat. Wetering 2, M. Boulton 1.
Deflections: McKeag 3, Shat. Wetering 2, E. Boulton 2, M. Boulton 1, Shan. Wetering 1.
Blocks: Shat. Wetering 2.
Took charge: E. Boulton 1.
