The Montezuma and PCM boys basketball teams were trading runs of points in their non-conference game on Thursday, Dec. 3.
It was the Braves early: Cole Watts scored 15 of his game-high 36 points in the first quarter. But it was PCM later: The Mustangs pounded the offensive boards and led 60-56 after three quarters.
Then, Montezuma Coach Derrick Dengler dialed up what turned out to be the game-changer: More pressure on the ball out front.
The Braves caught up, and went right on by, scoring an 82-71 win over PCM on the home hardwood.
“Being able to turn up the pressure down the stretch was a big key,” Dengler said, after Montezuma outscored PCM 26-11 in the fourth quarter.
Trey Shearer scored 33 for Montezuma. It was Watts early and Trey later for the Braves. Watts stuck his first three-ball attempt and then more. The Braves rode his 26 first half points to a 40-33 lead at intermission.
The Mustangs got good dribble drive penetration to start the third quarter and scored three quick baskets to cut their deficit to just one point. Meanwhile, the Braves settled for jump shots and didn’t connect . . .for a while.
Watts didn’t score in the third quarter. Then Shearer started finding the range and the Braves closed in.
Through three quarters, the Mustangs lived off their offensive rebounding. Of 41 total boards, 30 came off the offensive glass.
But after Montezuma starting pressuring the ball, the Mustangs had trouble taking it inside to their taller front line. And, they turned it over.
Trey Shearer and Cole Watts each scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. The Braves also involved others. Gavin Strong came off the bench to score eight important points in this game.
It was Strong’s layup after a nifty pass from Masin Shearer that put Montezuma up 77-69 – and out of reach – with 55 seconds left to play.
Watts scored his 36 on 12-for-18 shooting from the field, including six-for-11 from three-point range.
Trey Shearer’s 33 came on 10-for-18 shooting, including five-for-11 from behind the arc and eight-for-eight from the free throw line. He dished seven assists, team high on a 19-assists game for the Braves, and he led the team with eight rebounds.
PCM won the board battle 41-22, but the Braves seemed more in the hunt in this aspect than they had been earlier in the week against North Mahaska.
“We were a little bit better on the boards, and a little more efficient offensively,” Dengler said.
The win evened Montezuma at 1-1 on the young season. PCM fell to 0-2.
UP NEXT – Montezuma is at Colfax-Mingo Friday evening, Dec. 4. The game will be live streamed by the Colfax-Mingo school district, and you can access it by going to their school website.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
PCM 13 20 27 11 – 71
Montezuma 18 22 16 26 – 82
MONTEZUMA (82)
Cam Johnson 0-7, 0-0, 1, 0. Masin Shearer 0-4, 2-3, 3, 2. Cole Watts 12-18, 6-9, 2, 36. Trey Shearer 10-18, 8-8, 1, 33. Owen Cook 2-2, 0-1, 4, 4. Gavin Strong 3-8, 0-0, 4, 8. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 22-57, 16-21, 16, 82.
PCM (71)
TOTALS – 27-58, 9-15, 21, 71.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-point goals: PCM 8-23, Montezuma 12-36 (Watts 6-11, T. Shearer 5-11, Strong 1-5, Johnson 0-5, M. Shearer 0-4).
Turnovers: PCM 19, Montezuma 16.
Rebounds: PCM 41, Montezuma 22 (T. Shearer 8, Watts 5, Cook 3, Johnson 2, M.Shearer 2, Strong 1, team 1).
Assists: PCM 17, Montezuma 19 (T. Shearer 7, M. Shearer 5, Watts 3, Johnson 2, Cook 2.
Montezuma steals: 11 (Watts 4, T. Shearer 4, Johnson 1, M. Shearer 1, Strong 1.
Montezuma deflections: 6 (Watts 3, Johnson 1, M. Shearer 1, Strong 1.
Montezuma block – Johnson 1.