When you’re playing up a class, against a larger enrollment opponent with a similar won-loss record, one of the first adjustments you have to make is for speed of the game.
Generally, the larger school plays at a faster pace. You either slow them down, or go with them to hope to have success.
The Class 1A Montezuma Braves ran into a precise cutting and passing Class 2A team in now 15-2 Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont. The Braves (15-4) put four players in double figures – a noteworthy achievement – but lost, 78-67.
The game was played Friday evening, Feb. 4, in Montezuma.
“I think this was a good test for us,” Braves Coach Derrick Dengler said. “EBF was very athletic. I think it showed how locked in we need to be for the full game if we are going to compete with a team like that. Every defensive breakdown or turnover becomes so much more important.”
The Rockets’ cutting and passing gave them a lot of finishes at the rim against Montezuma’s usually in-the-way defense.
The Rockets led 18-15 after one quarter, 37-30 at halftime and 57-47 after three quarters.
EBF shot .531 from the field, highly unusual against the Montezuma defense. But, that shooting total includes a lot of looks from point-blank range, thanks to those cuts and passes.
A question was: Could EBF hit mid-range or long shots, if the Braves could make the Rockets shoot from out there?
The answer was: Not as well as in close to the basket, but well enough. The Braves did a better job of jamming the middle and passing lanes after intermission, but the Rockets still put in 41 points.
Montezuma pressed and cut its deficit under 10 points a couple of times late in the fourth quarter.
The closest approach was 71-65 with 1:23 left to play, when Eddie Burgess picked up a loose ball near the sideline and scored a layup as most of the players stopped and watched, thinking the ball had gone out of bounds.
But the Rockets were right back with free throws and more points in the paint to protect their lead.
Owen Cook scored 17 points to lead Montezuma.
Nick Kotar scored 15, Maguire De Jong put in 13 and Gavin Strong had 12.
Eddie Burgess scored 8.
De Jong continued his strong play of late. In addition to 13 points, he had 5 assists, 2 rebounds and a pair of steals.
Burgess just missed double figures scoring at 8 after a jammed middle prevented him from scoring a field goal in the first half. But he had his usual strong 16 rebounds and added 5 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot.
The Braves got themselves to the line, making 18-of-24 attempts there. De Jong went 7-for-8, and Kotar was 6-for-6.
The Braves were without quick guard Masin Shearer for a second straight game.
The Braves are hoping action against quality Class 2A opposition will help them prepare for Class 1A post-season play. They have another such date on Monday, against Grundy Center, at home.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
EBF 18 19 20 21 – 78
Montezuma 15 15 17 20 – 67
MONTEZUMA (67) – Gavin Strong 4-11, 3-5, 1, 12. Nik Kotar 3-10, 6-6, 3, 15. Colton Benson 1-2, 0-0, 3, 15. Owen Cook 7-12, 0-1, 1, 17. Eddie Burgess 3-6, 2-4, 4, 8. Garrett Watts 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Maguire De Jong 3-5, 7-8, 2, 13. TOTALS – 21-47, 18-24, 15, 67.
EBF (78) – TOTALS – 34-64, 8-10, 21, 78.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 17, EBF 17.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 7-20 (Cook 3-6, Kotar 3-7, Strong 1-5, Watt 0-1, De Jong 0-1); EBF 7-20.
Rebounds: Montezuma 25 (Burgess 16, Kotar 3, De Jong 2, Strong 2, Cook 2); EBP 26.
Assists: Montezuma 14 (Burgess 5, De Jong 5, Kotar 2, Cook 1, Watts 1); EBF 14.
Steals: Montezuma 7 (Burgess 3, De Jong 2, Cook 1, Watts 1); EBF 7.
Blocks: Montezuma 2 (Strong 1, Burgess 1); EBF 2.