NEW SHARON – Montezuma girls basketball Coach Janel Burgess said her team’s season-opening loss to Pella Christian could help make the Bravettes a better team in the long run.
The run turned out to be a short one.
The Bravettes got away to a 14-4 first quarter start and didn’t look back in a 65-36 conference opener against North Mahaska on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Montezuma looked quicker, and used defensive pressure by its guards to keep North Mahaska’s guards and posts separated.
“Our young team grew a lot in a week,” Burgess said. “It came from getting after loose balls, out-hustling out opponent to the ball and making each other better.”
The Bravettes got 19 points from senior guard Elise Boulton, who also dished seven assists.
The Bravettes also unveiled a new scoring threat in sophomore guard Madison Johannes. She came off the bench when a couple of other shooters were struggling, and made major impact.
Johannes scored 17 points, including a five-for-10 performance from behind the arc.
Montezuma led 27-17 at halftime, and 50-29 after outscoring the Warhawks 23-12 in the third quarter.
Post player Dylan Holland had a big game for the Bravettes, scoring 12 points (on five-for-seven shooting), grabbing 11 rebounds and leading the team with six steals.
“Our team needs to grow each night out and we did that at North Mahaska,” Burgess said.
Montezuma had 22 steals, part of 27 North Mahaska turnovers. The Bravettes had 15 turnovers.
The next task for the 1-1 Bravettes is to keep the run going.
“Our entire senior class did its job and everyone else followed suit,” Burgess said.
“We are eager to host PCM on Thursday for another tough non-conference match-up,” the coach said.
UP NEXT – As stated above, Montezuma hosts PCM on Thursday, Dec. 3. The girls-boys doubleheader will be live streamed.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 14 13 23 15 – 65
North Mahaska 4 13 12 7 – 36
MONTEZUMA (65)
Shanae Wetering 2-4, 0-0, 4, 5. Kierstyn Price 2-5, 0-0, 4, 4. Mia Boulton 1-9, 1-2, 1, 4. Elise Boulton 5-13, 6-7, 0, 19. Dylan Holland 5-7, 2-4, 2, 12. Madison Johanne 6-12, 0-0, 1, 17. Jadyn Sharer 0-7, 0-2, 0, 0. Alyssa Cline 0-2, 2-2, 0, 2. Abby Cheney 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Kallie Robison 1-2, 0-0, 0, 2. Korinn Kehoe 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 22-61, 11-17, 13, 65.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 15, North Mahaska 27.
Three-point goals: (10-38) – Johannes 5-10, E. Boulton 3-6, Wetering 1-2, M. Boulton 1-7, Price 0-3, Holland 0-1, Sharer 0-6, Cline 0-2, Robison 0-1.
Rebounds: (37) – Holland 11, Wetering 5, M. Boulton 5, Price 3, E. Boulton 3, Johannes 3, Sharer 2, Robison 2, Cline 1.
Assists: (11) – E. Boulton 7, Johannes 3, M. Boulton 1.
Steals (22) – Holland 6, Johannes 5, Wetering 3, M. Boulton 3, Price 2, E. Boulton 3).
Blocks (1) – Price 1.