Girls step past Keota, 63-35

Vivian Cook casts up a runner, (Marie Boulton photo).

MONTEZUMA – The varsity Bravettes got the 2025 portion of their season off to a flying start, taking down Keota 63-35 at home on Friday evening, Jan. 3.

Montezuma, the state’s seventh-ranked team in Class 1A, pushed its record up to 6-3.

Keota fell to 2-7.

Three Bravettes scored in double figures. Vivian Cook and Shiressa Wetering each had 16 points, and Claire Erselius scored 15.

Wetering was 7-for-14 from the field.

The Bravettes led 18-9 after one quarter, 35-17 at halftime, and 54-25 through three quarters.

Syd Burgess continued to pound the boards, leading with 10 rebounds. Guard Ellen Cook ran down 7 rebounds.

Guard Vivian Cook had 9 assists as the Bravettes assisted 16 of their 24 field goals.

Vivian Cook splashed down four three-pointer and Erselius nailed 3 of them.

Montezuma had 16 steals, with Vivian Cook, Burgess and Earselius each getting 4.

UP NEXT – The girls host PCM on Thursday, Jan. 9, and are at Belle Plaine on Friday, Jan. 10.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Keota            9  8  8 10 – 35
Montezuma 18 17 19  9 – 63

MONTEZUMA (63) – Ellen Cook 3-11, 0-0, 2, 7; Vivian Cook 5-18, 2-2, 2, 16; Syd Burgess 1-2, 1-4, 2, 3; Claire Erselius 6-14, 0-2, 3, 15; Shiressa Wetering 7-14, 2-3, 1, 16; Lauryn Larmore 2-4, 0-0, 2, 6. TOTALS – 24-63, 5-11, 12, 63.

LINE SCORE LEGEND – field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.

Three-pointers: 10-30 (V. Cook 4-11, Erselius 3-9, Larmore 2-4, E. Cook 1-5, Wetering 0-1).

Turnovers – 9.

Rebounds – 27 (Burgess 10, E. Cook 7, Wetering 5, V. Cook 3, Larmore 2).

Assists – 16 (V. Cook 9, E. Cook 4, Burgess 1, Erselius 1, Wetering 1.

Steals – 16 (V. Cook 4, Burgess 4, Erselius 4, E. Cook 3, Larmore 1).

Blocks – 4 (Burgess 2, Wetering 2).