Defenses ruled Monday evening, Feb. 7, as Grundy Center, the ninth-ranked girls team in Class 2A, scored a tight, 46-41 win over Montezuma, the 15th-rated team in Class 1A.
The Bravettes got out to a great start, knocked in a trio of three-pointers to get away to a 9-0 lead. Montezuma led 19-14 at the quarter break.
The Bravettes took their lead to 24-16 a bit past the midway point in the second quarter.
But the Spartans went to a match-up zone, with one-on-one coverage on Shanae Wetering and Mia Boulton.
Grundy Center went on an 11-0 run to close the first half, leading 27-24 at the break.
All 24 of Montezuma’s first half points were scored by the guards. M.J. Johannes had 8 at the break, Boulton had 7, Ellen Cook had 6 and Jadyn Sharer had 3.
Wetering didn’t score in the first half. But she dropped in 15 points in the second as the Braves got the ball to her and picked as she drove in from the high post.
Montezuma’s own defense was very tight. Still, the Spartans led 35-31 through three quarters.
Montezuma got the lead at 40-39 on two Wetering free throws with 2:00 left to play.
But the Spartans went 4-for-4 from the line and pulled out a good win in a battle of well-matched – but different – teams.
Madison Johannes was also in double figures for the Bravettes with 11 points, and went 3-for-4 on three-pointers.
Shanae Wetering grabbed 9 rebounds, had a pair of steals and blocked one shot.
Montezuma’s record fell to 17-4, while Grundy Center moves on at 19-2.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Grundy Center 14 13 8 11 – 46
Montezuma 19 5 7 10 – 41
MONTEZUMA (41) – Madison Johannes 4-5, 0-0, 1, 11. Shanae Wetering 4-10, 5-8, 4, 15. Mia Boulton 2-6, 1-2, 3, 7. Jadyn Sharer 1-3, 0-0, 1, 3. Korrinn Kehoe 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0. Ellen Cook 2-7, 1-1, 1, 5. Izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 4, 0. Kallie Robison 0-1, 0-0, 4, 0. Shiressa Wetering 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 13-35, 7-11, 15, 41.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: 15.
Three-pointers: 8-17 (Johannes 3-4, Shan. Wetering 2-4, Boulton 2-6, Sharer 1-2, Cook 0-1).
Rebounds: 21 (Shan. Wetering 9, Johannes 3, Boulton 3, Cook 2, Roorda 2, Sharer 1, Robison 1).
Assists: 7 (Boulton 4, Johannes 1, Shan. Wetering 1, Roorda 1).
Steals: 3 (Shan. Wetering 2, Boulton 1).
Blocks: 1 (Shan. Wetering).