Last week, the Bravettes opened their varsity basketball season with a 60-50 win over Pella Christian, a quick and probably, good team.
Tuesday night, Montezuma opened conference play with an 80-18 win over HLV, which, we can agree, is a pretty young team.
So, did the Bravettes get better from one game to the next?
Never mind the scores. To know for sure, we need to ask a professional: Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess.
“We did grow, in a variety of ways,” Burgess said.
“Our defense was better, but we still have far to go with great opponents ahead of us,” she said.
“We have started to learn each others’ tendencies better, but we still have a long way to go. Our selflessness on the offensive end is very special for a young team.”
“I believe our ability to share the ball will go a long way for us as we grow throughout the season,” Burgess said.
Montezuma led 48-7 at halftime, then hit HLV with a 31-5 third quarter.
The Bravettes put four girls in double figures. Mia Boulton scored 19 points, Shanae Wetering had 17, Madison Johannes tallied 15 and Jadyn Sharer scored 13.
Sharer had a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her 13 points.
Madison Johannes had big numbers in several categories, including 15 points, six rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
“Areas we must improve on: To continue to learn how to lock down defensively in our quarter-court defense, and to communicate better.”
“We must also learn also must learn how to communicate better in order to play through adverse situations,” Burgess said. “This will come with time.”
“I absolutely love our effort, our desire to be better each day,” Burgess said. “This team is going to be fun to watch grow!”
SCORE BY QUARTERS
HLV 2 5 5 6 – 18
Montezuma 14 24 31 11 – 80
MONTEZUMA (80) – Madison Johannes 6-11, 1-3, 0, 15. Shanae Wetering 7-12, 2-4, 3, 17. Mia Boulton 6-14, 1-2, 2, 19. Jadyn Sharer 5-11, 0-0, 0, 13. Korrinn Kehoe 3-3, 0-0, 2, 6. Madison Van Zee 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Laila Kerchevql 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Ellen Cook 1-6, 0-0, 3, 3. Alivia Cline 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Izzy Roorda 1-1, 0-0, 1, 2. Abby Cheney 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Kallie Robison 1-2, 0-2, 2, 2. Shiressa Wetering 0-1, 1-2, 2, 1. TOTALS – 31-64, 5-13, 16, 80.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throw made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers – 8
Three-point goals: 13-37 (Boulton 6-13, Johannes 2-6, Shanae Wetering 1-5, Sharer 3-6, Van Zee 0-1, Cook 1-5, Cline 0-1).
Rebounds: 34 (Sharer 10, Johannes 6, Shanae Wetering 6, Kehoe 3, Cook 3, Robison 3, Shiressa Wetering 2, Kercheval 1).
Assists: 22 (Johannes 7, Boulton 4,Cook 4, Sharer 2, Kehoe 2, Shanae Wetering 1, Cline 1, Cheney 1).
Steals: 12 (Johannes 6, Sharer 3, Boulton 2, Shanae Wetering 1).
Blocks: 1 (Robison).
JV team gets a win
Montezuma’s junior varsity girls rolled to a 35-14 win over HLV on Tuesday.
Both Montezuma girls teams hit the road later this week, at PCM on Thursday, and at Lynnville-Suly on Friday.