DES MOINES – Not many basketball teams win the final game of their seasons.
But Montezuma did, and with it came a third-place finish in the Class 1A boys state tournament.
The final was 78-72 over West Fork of Sheffield in a game dominated more by the Braves than the final score indicates.
The Braves led by 14 points after guard Trey Shearer made a four-point play – a made three and a free throw after being fouled on the shot – with two minutes left in the third quarter.
Montezuma then weathered a missile attack of three-pointers by the Warhawks, which drew them to within three at 75-72 with 44 seconds left.
But the Braves converted free throws to extend their lead. Montezuma took to the ball to the basket in this game, and wound up going 27-for-35 from the free throw line.
Trey Shearer scored 27 points and Cole Watts, who shook off low scoring totals in his first two games of the tourney, came alive with 26.
Eddie Burgess scored 18 and grabbed 13 rebounds. Masin Shearer scored 17.
Kayden Ames’ 22 points led three West Fork double figures scorers.
West Fork fell despite going 17-for-32 from three-point range.
The Warhawks ended their season at 24-4.
Montezuma comes home having completed a 25-3 season – and with a trophy a couple inches taller than the fourth place prize they earned last season.
COME BACK later when we’ll have stats, more details, and photos from the final two days at state.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
West Fork 17 11 19 25 – 72
Montezuma 22 16 18 22 – 78
WEST FORK (72) – Ian Latham 3-8, 4-5, 5, 13. Brett Weaver 2-5, 0-0, 1, 5. Kayden Ames 8-15, 0-0, 2, 22. Jakob Washington 1-6, 1-2, 3, 3. Brayden Vold 0-4, 0-0, 3, 0. Noah Maske 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Colin Martinek 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. Ren Heimer 3-5, 0-0, 2, 9. Cail Weaver 6-9, 0-0, 4, 16. Joe Ingham 2-4, 0-0, 1, 4. TOTALS – 25-57, 5-7, 222, 72.
MONTEZUMA (78) – Brayden Arendt, 0-4, 0-0, 1, 0. Masin Shearer 2-3, 2-5, 1, 7. Cole Watts 6-11, 9-10, 2, 26. Trey Shearer 8-19, 7-9, 1, 27. Eddie Burgess 4-6, 9-11, 2, 18. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Gavin Strong 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Brody Chidester 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 20-45, 27-35, 7, 78.
Line score legend: Field goals attempted-made, free throws attempted-made, personal fouls, total points.
Assists: West Fork 22 (B. Weaver 5, Latham 3, Heimer 3, C. Weaver 3, Ames 2, Vold 2, Maske 2, Washington 1, Martinek 1); Montezuma 13 (T. Shearer 5, Burgess 3, Arendt 2, Watts 2, M. Shearer 1).
Rebounds: West Fork 34 (Washington 10, Vold 8, Latham 4, B. Weaver 3, Ingham 3, Martinek 2, Ames 1, Heimer 1, C. Weaver 1); Montezuma 26 (Burgess 13, Watts 3, T. Shearer 3, Chidester 3, Arendt 1, M. Shearer 1, Cook 1, team 1).
Three-point goals: West Fork 17-32 (Ames 6-11, C. Weaver 4-6, Heimer 3-5, Latham 3-6, B. Weaver 1-2, Washington 0-1, Martinek 0-1); Montezuma 11-25 (Watts 5-10, T. Shearer 4-10, M. Shearer 1-1, Burgess 1-1, Strong 0-1, Arendt 0-2).
Steals: West Fork 5 (C. Weaver 2, Ames 2, Heimer 1); Montezuma 9 (T. Shearer 4, Watts 2, Arendt 1, M. Shearer 1, Strong 1).
Turnovers: West Fork 14, Montezuma 9.
Blocks: West Fork 2 (Latham 1, Ames 1); Montezuma 2 (T. Shearer 1, Burgess 1).
Fouled out: West Fork – Latham, 3:12 4th qtr).
Technical foul: West Fork – Latham.
