MONTEZUMA – The Montezuma Bravettes’ defense picked up their regional semifinal opponent at the front door and just didn’t quit.
Montezuma’s pressure didn’t allow Melcher-Dallas to breathe in a 66-26 win at home on Friday, Feb. 21, that left the Bravettes one win from an appearance in the state finals.
Montezuma led 38-10 at halftime and created a continuous clock late in the third quarter.
Next date: A Class 1A regional championship game on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Indianola High School. They’ll meet Lenox, a 36-32 winner over Mt. Ayr, which entered that game with a 21-1 record. Lenox is 19-5.
Montezuma went inside to post player Shiressa Wetering for 10 first quarter points as the Bravettes led 20-5 after one quarter.
Montezuma’s three-point shooters got active after that.
Ellen Cook finished with 17 to lead the Bravettes. She also had the defensive assignment on Addison Wadle, a 5-1 guard who came in leading scorer for her team at 21.1 points a game. She scored just 2 points in the first half and finished with 5.
Wetering finished with 16 for Montezuma, Claire Erselius had 14 and Syd Burgess scored 9 points.
Both teams entered this game with 17-5 records.
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SCORE BY QUARTERS
Melcher-Dallas 5 5 7 9 – 26
Montezuma 20 18 17 11 – 66