NEW SHARON – Montezuma’s girls had reason to celebrate.
They scored a 59-44 win at seventh-ranked North Mahaska on Tuesday evening, Jan. 31.
That meant the two teams finished the South Iowa Cedar League race tied at the top of the standings, each with 13-1 conference records. Their lone losses: To each other.
A tie with each other probably wasn’t on either team’s bucket list. But, at the class reunions 30 years from now, it won’t matter.
When you look at that score and the 44 points up on the board for the Warhawks, you have to know that the defense came up big for the Bravettes.
Senior guard Mia Boulton erupted for 32 points in this game. Back on Dec. 13, North Mahaska won 50-44 in Montezuma. Boulton had 12 points in that one.
Boulton was 11-for-21 from the field, including 4-of-10 on three-pointers. She also continued a recent streak of getting her self to the free throw line. In this game, she was 6-for-6 from there.
“Our senior class did their jobs in this game,” said Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess. “Mia Boulton scored on all three levels of the court; threes, layups and her mid-range game. She also was able to get to the free throw line for us.”
The Bravettes had an inside presence, too. Post Shiressa Wetering scored 10 points and Kallie Robison had six. Combined, they were 6-for-11 from the field, 4-for-7 from the line, and grabbed nine rebounds. “Kallie played tremendous help defense,” Burgess said. “All three of these young ladies have truly developed into great leaders.”
Breckyn Schilling scored 17 points, had six rebounds and dished 4 assists for the Warhawks. “Schilling scored 17 TOUGH points,” Burgess said. “MJ (Madison Johannes) locked down on her.”
Regan Grewe had 9 points, and Kayla Readshaw had 7.
The Bravettes went on a 13-2 run to end the third quarter leading 41-37. Montezuma then outscored North Mahaska 18-7 in the fourth quarter, then the Bravettes made 6 of 7 from the line.
In addition to her scoring, Boulton contributed 5 steals and 3 assists.
Guard Madison Johannes scored 6 points, scoring two three-point baskets. She also added 4 rebounds.
The victory lifted Montezuma to 16-2 overall and a 13-1 league record.
The loss – the first for the Warhawks after 17 straight wins – left them at 17-2 and 13-1. “We are extremely excited to have earned the conference championship,” Burgess said. “We still have work to do and that will begin with our road trip to Eddyville.”
UP NEXT – The Bravettes go up in class on Friday, Jan. 3 and they’ll take on a very strong team at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 10 14 17 18 – 59
North Mahaska 10 13 14 7 – 44
MONTEZUMA (59)
Madison Johannes 2-9, 0-0, 0, 6. Ellen Cook 0-6, 0-0, 1, 0. izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. Claire Erselius 1-2, 0-0, 3, 2. Mia Boulton 11-21, 6-6, 3, 32. Jadyn Sharer 1-5, 0-0, 2, 3. Kallie Robison 3-5, 0-0, 2, 6. Shiressa Wetering 3-6, 4-7, 0, 10. TOTALS – 21-54, 10-13, 13, 59.
NORTH MAHASKA (44)
TOTALS – 15-40, 10-15, XX, 44.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 7-25 (Boulton 4-10, Johannes 2-8, Sharer 1-2, Erselius 0-1, Cook 0-4); North Mahaska 4-11.
Turnovers: Monezuma 12, North Mahaska 22.
Rebounds: Montezuma 21 (Robison 5, Wetering 4, Johannes 4, Sharer 4, Cook 2, Boulton 3); North Mahaska 25.
Assists: Montezuma 9 (Cook 3, Boulton 3, Johannes 2, Robison 1).
Steals: Montezuma 9 (Boulton 5, Johannes 1, Cook 1, Erselius 1, Wetering 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 1 (Wetering).