The Bravettes extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 68-29 home win over HLV on Tuesday evening, Jan. 20.
What’s more, the win brought a share of the SICL championship.
“We finish in a three-way tie for the conference championship!” said Coach Janel Burgess. Montezuma, North Mahaska and Lynnville-Sully each had two conference losses.
“I am so proud of our team for focusing on getting better and not on the two early losses in the season,” Burgess said. “We have definitely improved each week and as a program that is what we strive to do each year. Get better, be our best at the end and enjoy becoming a TEAM!”
The Bravettes jumped out to a 25-5 lead after one quarter. The teams played an 11-11 second quarter before Montezuma outscored the Warriors 32-13 in the second half.
The Bravettes shot .455 from the field and limited HLV to .239.
Shiressa Wetering scored 19 points for Montezuma on 8-for-14 from the field. Wetering also blocked four shots and was second in rebounds with 7.
Vivian Cook scored 18 points, including 6-for-11 on three-pointers. Vivian and Claire Erselius each came away with 3 steals.
Ellen Cook scored 12 points, and added 5 deflections to Montezuma’s effort on defense.
Sydnee Burgess led the Bravettes in rebounding with nine and assists with four as she plays an expanding role in the team’s success.
Montezuma grabbed a season-high 40 rebounds, which was 18 more than the Warriors in this game.
Montezuma extended its record to 17-2 overall.
HLV was at 8-7.
“Two stats I love to see: assists are equal to or higher than our turnovers and I love watching (the other team’s) turnovers created,” Burgess said.
“This team has more improvements to be made and we are to demand more out of them and cheer them on frm the sidelines during games,” Burgess said.
UP NEXT – The Bravettes and Braves host Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Friday, Feb. 2. The E-B-F girls are rates sixth in Class 2A.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
HLV 5 16 6 7 – 29
Montezuma 25 11 24 8 – 68
MONTEZUMA (68) – Rylee Wolford 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Ellen Cook 5-12, 0-0, 0, 12. Vivian Cook 6-11, 0-2, 4, 4. Sydnee Burgess 1-2, 2-2, 4, 4. Claire Erselius 3-6, 1-4, 1, 4. Izzy Roorda 0-1, 0-0, 2, 0. Jayden Sharer 1-6, 1-4, 1, 4. Jordan Ranfeld 0-1, 0-2, 0, 0. Laila Kercheval 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Lindsey Henry 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Mya Smothers 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Shiressa Wetering 8-14, 3-6, 2, 19. AJ Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 25-55, 7-20, 12, 68.
HLV (29) – TOTALS – 11-46, 5-14, 13, 29.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 12, HLV 17.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 11-29 (V. Cook 6-11, Erselius 2-5, E. Cook 2-6, Sharer 1-4, Burgess 0-1, Roorda 0-1, L. Kercheval 0-1); HLV 2-15.
Rebounds: Montezuma 40 (Burgess 9, Wetering 7, E. Cook 5, V. Cook 3, Erselius 2, Roorda 3, Sharer 2, Ranfeld 2, L. Kercheval 2, Henry 2, AJ Kercheval 2, team 1); HLV 22.
Assists: Montezuma 14 (Burgess 4, E. Cook 3, V. Cook 2, Sharer 2, Erselius 1, Roorda 1, Wesering 1).
Steals: Montezuma 11 (V. Cook 3, Erselius 3, E. Cook 2, Wetering 2, L. Kercheval 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 11 (E. Cook 5, V. Cook 2, Erselius 1, Ranfeld 1, Roorda 1, Team 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 4 (Wetering 3, Burgess 1).