BELLE PLAINE – Montezuma responded in a most positive way to their loss the night before by scoring a 64-10 win over Belle Plaine in a varsity girls basketball game on Friday evening, Jan. 10.
The win wasn’t unexpected, but the quality of play was the question facing the state’s #7 Class 1A team.
The quality was there. Belle Plaine had trouble getting the basketball into scoring position against Montezuma’s pressuring defense. On offense, the Bravettes were humming. They dropped in 13 three-point baskets, including 11 in the first half.
Montezuma led 50-5 at halftime. The regulars played into the fourth quarter, but dropped the press on defense and walked the ball into front court on offense during second half, continuous clock action.
Senior guard Ellen Cook emerged with a prized triple-double: 23 points, 10 rebounds and 12 steals. All three were team highs.
Ellen added 6 assists, also a team high.
Vivian Cook was second in scoring with 21.
Shiressa Wetering scored 9 points and Claire Erselius had 8.
The Bravettes had a couple of stunning team totals, one on offense and one on defense.
The Bravettes came up with 28 steals, jumping into the passing lanes sometimes before Belle Plaine threw the pass.
Also, Montezuma assisted 18 of it 23 field goals, with six different players joining in.
The Bravettes also played defense without fouling, as a total of 4 personals called attests.
Belle Plaine entered the game with one win in 11 games. The Plainsmen were averaging just 18 points per contest.
The Bravettes went to 7-4 on the season.
Belle Plaine fell to 1-11.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 25 25 7 7 – 64
Belle Plaine 3 2 5 0 – 10
MONTEZUMA (64) – Ellen Cook 8-24, 0-0, 0, 23; Vivian Cook 8-18, 1-2, 2, 21. Syd Burgess -2, 3-4, 0, 3; Claire Erselius 3-5, 0-0, 0, 8; Shiressa Wetering 4-9, 1-2, 1, 9; Lindsey Henry 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Lauryn Larmore 0-2, 0-2, 1, 0; Ryanne Williams 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0; Sophia Semprini 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Letisia Wilson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Alexa Rose 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 23-62, 5-10, 4, 64.
LINE SCORE LEGEND: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: 13-39 (E. Cook 7-20, V. Cook 4-13, Ereslius 2-4 team 0-2).
Turnovers: 8.
Rebounds: 27 (E. Cook 10, Buress 8, Erselius 2, Wetering 2, Larmore 3, V. Cook 1, Henry 1).
Assists: 18 (E. Cook 6, Burgess 5, V. Cook 4, Erselius 1, Wetering 1, Larmore 1).
Steals: 28 (E. Cook 12, V. Cook 5, Burgess 3, Erselius 3, Wetering 2, Larmore 2, Henry 1).
Blocks: 2 (Wetering 2).