Montezuma’s junior varsity boys basketball team bounced back from a loss to score wins over BGM and Iowa Valley in games that were limited to two quarters each.
Montezuma upended BGM on the road, 25-8 on Friday, Jan. 29, then beat Iowa Valley on the road, 20-14, on Monday, Feb. 1.
“These were two great wins for us,” Coach Cal Smith. “They came after a bad loss (80-22) at Albia.”
“Against Albia, there was not of lot of energy or effort overall,” Smith said. “We talked after the game about wanting to play to compete and win, rather than just showing up and going through the motions.”
“The boys really picked it up the following two games,” Smith said. “There was much more energy coming out of the players and they were excited to play against BGM and Iowa Valley.”
Against BGM, Garrett Watts scored 11 points and Jacob Ross and Colton Benson each put in five. Montezuma led 13-5 at the quarter break.
Jack Erselius, Watts, Benson and Ross each had two rebounds each.
In the win at Iowa Valley, Watts scored 12, all on three-point shots. Erselius and Benton scored three points each.
Benson grabbled six rebounds, Watts had five, and Maguire De Jong pulled down four.
Montezuma led 12-4 at the quarter break.
“I told them after those wins that they are fully capable of beating any team we go up against if we go in with the right attitude,” Smith said.
“Our next stop will be against HLV at home on Saturday night (Feb. 6), and I’m looking forward to seeing us continue to grow,” the coach said.