INDIANOLA – Next Wednesday will mark the 17th appearance of the Montezuma Bravettes in the girls state basketball tournament.
But as Coach Janel Burgess or her players and they’ll tell you: “It never gets old!”
Senior guard Ellen Cook sparked a third quarter charge that helped the Bravettess break free from a halftime tie with Lenox and surge to a 49-37 win over a stubborn Tigers team on Wednesday, Feb 26, in the regional championship game.
The first round at state, for all eight Class 1A teams, will take place next Wednesday afternoon and evening, March 5, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The Bravettes, (19-5), have drawn the number five seed and will open against #4 Bishop Garrigan (22-3) in the session’s second game at 3:15 p.m.
The Lenox Tigers displayed the same pressing, physical defense that helped them knock off previously once-beaten Mt. Ayr in the regional semifinals.
The Tigers zone-pressed full court and worked from a 2-3 zone in half court. Ellen Cook and Vivian Cook, Bravettes guards with excellent ball handling skills, got through the press, but not to where one last pass resulted in a wide-open look at a three-pointer. Montezuma made just two three-pointers in the first half.
But sophomore forward Syd Burgess and senior post Shiressa Wetering held the Bravettes in with scoring, blocked shots and rebounds.
Burgess scored 10 of her 14 points by halftime, which ended with the teams staring up at a 20-20 tie.
The Bravettes came alive right out of the locker room in the third quarter. Vivian Cook, then Ellen Cook, splashed down consecutive treys to open a 30-22 Montezuma lead that served as working capital.
Sadie Cox, a strong 5-11 post for Lenox, did her best to hold Lenox in with aggressive drives and rebounding.
Ellen Cook scored 12 of her team-high 14 points in the second half. Montezuma surged again, making it a 23-8 third quarter and a 15-point lead with just 8 minutes left in the game.
Montezuma took some time off the clock at strategic points on the road to the finish and the 12-point win.
Burgess and Wetering scored 12 points each. Claire Erselius scraped off of high post screens and scored 8. Vivian Cook added one three-point basket, which had to feel satisfying considering all the attention she got from the defense.
Cox scored 14 points, Zoe Reed added 11 and Izzy Curtis scored 8 points for Lenox.
Lenox finished with a 19-6 record.
Montezuma moves on to the state finals at 19-5.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 10 10 23 6 – 49
Lenox 8 12 8 9 – 37
MONTEZUMA (49): Ellen Cook 6-16, 0-0, 1, 14; Vivian Cook 1-8, 0-0, 1, 3; Syd Burgess 5-6, 1-1, 2, 11; Claire Erselius 3-11, 0-0, 1, 8; Shiressa Wetering 5-10, 3-3, 3, 13; Lauryn Larmore 0-2, 0-0, 2, 0. TOTALS: 20-53, 4-4, 10, 49.
LINE SCORE LEGEND: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: 5-26 (Erselius 2-8, E. Cook 2-10, V. Cook 1-6, Larmore 0-2).
Turnovers: 10.
Rebounds: 32 (E. Cook 9, V. Cook 9, Burgess 7, Erselius 2. Larmore 2, Wetering 2).
Assists: 14 (E. Cook 5, Burgess 3, Erselius 2, Wetering 1, Larmore 1, V. Cook 1).
Steals: 4 (E. Cook 1, V. Cook 1, Burgess 1, Wetering 1).
Blocks: 5 (Burgess 4, Wetering 1).
