Tempo control.
Montezuma had it against BGM, and beat the Bears 56-35 in an SICL boys basketball game at home on Friday evening, Dec. 11.
The Braves got control with a zone press in the first half, and kept it with good work on the defensive boards and strong ball movement on offense.
Trey Shearer led the Braves with 30 points. He was the only Montezuma player in double figures, but the Braves were in balance behind him.
Cole Watts scored eight for the Braves, while Cam Johnson and Masin Shearer had seven points each. Watts scored all of his points in the first quarter, but came up with five steals and nine rebounds, which were key stats in the Braves’ victory.
Montezuma led 14-10 after one quarter, 31-17 at halftime and 41-29 after three quarters.
BGM jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but a switch to a zone press picked up Montezuma’s energy. The Bears hung tough through three quarters.
“We missed some easy shots and got off to a rough start, so it was good to see our defense was in form and able to pull away at the end,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler
Trey Shearer bombed in a trio of three-balls in a 15-6 fourth quarter as the Braves pulled away.
The Braves helped to force 19 BGM turnovers, while making just nine themselves.
Montezuma also battled the Bears to a 29-29 draw on the boards.
Trase Kriegel led BGM with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Montezuma moved its record out to 4-1 on the season, while BGM is 1-3.
UP NEXT – The Braves are at Lynnville-Sully for a girls/boys varsity doubleheader on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
BGM 10 7 12 6 – 35
Montezuma 14 17 10 15 – 56
MONTEZUMA (56)
Cam Johnson 3-7, 0-0, 1, 7. Masin Shearer 3-10, 0-0, 2, 7. Cole Watts 3-8, 2-4, 0, 8. Trey Shearer 10-21, 5-8, 0, 30. Owen Cook 1-7, 0-0, 1, 2. Gavin Strong 1-4, 0-0, 2, 2. Joey Kercheval 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 21-58, 7-12, 6, 56.
BGM (35)
TOTALS – 16-42, 0-0, 8, 35.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: BGM 19, Montezuma 9.
Three-point goals: BGM 3-24. Montezuma 7-24 (T. Shearer 5-9, Johnson 1-2, M. Shearer 1-5. Watts 0-2, Cook 0-3, Strong 0-3).
Rebounds: BGM 29, Montezuma 29 (Watts 9, Cook 7, Johnson 3, M. Shearer 3, Strong 3, T. Shearer 2, Kercheval 2).
Assists: BGM 11, Montezuma 12 (T. Shearer 3, Johnson 2, M. Shearer 2, Watts 2, Strong 2, Cook 1.
Steals: BGM 4, Montezuma 11 (Watts 5, T. Shearer 3, Johnson 1, M. Shearer 1, Kercheval 1).
Blocks: none.