Many sports fans believe that most teams make their largest percentage degree of improvement between their first game and their second.
The Montezuma Braves stated a case for that Thursday night, Dec. 3 – but it took them a while to finish their statement.
The Braves, down 60-56 through three quarters to PCM, outscored the Mustangs 26-11 in the fourth quarter, to win going away, 82-71.
Cole Watts scored 36 points for the Braves and Trey Shearer dropped in 33. But it was a late defensive adjustment that started the snowball down the hill.
The larger Mustangs were intent and patient in taking the ball to the rim. But in the fourth quarter, the Braves applied more pressure out front, and the results – turnovers – were immediate.
Watts, who scored 26 points in the first half, but none in the third quarter, got going again with 10 in the fourth.
Trey Shearer, with six at halftime, knocked down 27 in the second half, and joined Watts with 10 in the fourth.
Gavin Strong came off the Braves bench to score some crucial points.
Montezuma knocked down 12 three-pointers, seven of them by Watts, who had all but one of them by halftime. PCM hit eight three-pointers.
The Braves evened their record at 1-1, while PCM dropped to 0-2. These teams played a memorable double-overtime game last season, with the Mustangs handing Montezuma one of its three defeats on the season.
COME BACK here later for official stats and more details.
UP NEXT – The Braves go back into league play Friday at Colfax-Mingo.
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.