COLFAX – The Montezuma Braves are working on a re-do of their identity as a basketball team and no doubt will be all season.
But, they’re just three games into this and the re-do appears to be happening at remarkable speed.
The Braves looked s-m-o-o-t-h in a 78-40 cruise past Colfax-Mingo on Friday evening, Dec. 4.
The Braves’ motion offense was humming. They made just two turnovers through three quarters, after which they had a 41-point lead going and a mercy clock running.
Trey Shearer scored 29 points and Cole Watts had 20. And they had more scoring help in this game, with Masin Shearer and Cam Johnson chipping in with nine and eight points, respectively.
The Tigerhawks got two quick baskets inside during the first quarter, but few passes found their way into good scoring position after that. The Braves helped to create 27 turnovers. Montezuma finished with just four.
Montezuma bombed in 12 three-point baskets. Five of those were by Trey Shearer, the last of which led to a rare four-point play during early fourth quarter play. He was fouled as he released the scoring shot from the right corner, then made the free throw.
Montezuma led 20-9 after one quarter and 41-24 at halftime. The Tigerhawks stayed as close as they were by hitting four three-pointers in the first half.
But the Braves remedied that at halftime. Montezuma scored the first 14 points of the second half and didn’t give up post-halftime trey. The Braves led 71-30 after going on a 30-6 scoring binge in the third quarter.
Trey Shearer starts next week as the leading boys scorer in the state – all classes – with Cole Watts ranking fifth.
The Braves had 17 assists and 16 steals. They were down 29-16 on the boards, but were competitive underneath against a slightly taller team.
The win lifted the Braves to a 2-1 record. Colfax-Mingo stood at 0-2 after the contest.
UP NEXT – Montezuma’s girls and boys play at varsity doubleheader at HLV on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 20 21 30 7 – 78
Colfax-Mingo 9 15 6 10 – 40
MONTEZUMA (78)
Cameron Johnson 3-6, 0-2, 1, 8. Masin Shearer 4-6, 0-1, 3, 9. Cole Watts 9-14, 0-2, 2, 20. Trey Shearer 10-16, 4-4, 1, 29. Owen Cook 2-7, 0-0, 1, 4. Jack Erselius 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Garrett Watts 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Sawyer Tindle 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Gavin Strong 2-6, 0-0, 1, 5. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 5, 0. Camden Michalek 1-3, 0-0, 0, 3. TOTALS 31-59, 4-9, 15, 78.
COLFAX-MINGO (40)
TOTALS – 16-36, 4-7, 10, 40.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: PCM 27; Montezuma 4.
Three-point goals: CM 4-12; Montezuma 12-29 (T. Shearer 5-8, Johnson 2-3, C. Watts 2-6, M. Shearer 1-3, Strong 1-4, Michalek 1-3, Cook 0-2).
Rebounds: CM 29; Montezuma 16 (T. Shearer 7, C. Watts 5, Cook 3, Strong 1).
Assists: CM 10; Montezuma 17 (T. Shearer 7, C. Watts 4, M. Shearer 3, Cook 2, Johnson 1, G. Watts 1, Strong 1.
Steals: CM 1; Montezuma 16 (C. Watts 5, M. Shearer 3, Johnson 3, T. Shearer 2, Cook 2, Strong 1).
Blocks: none.