The Montezuma Braves did some serious driving, dishing and long-range bombing in a 96-43 win over Tri-County on Tuesday evening, Dec. 22.
After a slow start (Tri-County led 5-0), the Braves kicked it into gear, and had a continuous clock in place for the start of the second half.
Montezuma scored 29 points in the first quarter, and 38 in the second to lead 67-27 at halftime. The Braves were not limited to driving and dishing. They threw some pretty sharp passes through or over a zone defense to set up teammates for open looks.
The Braves connected on 15 three-point baskets in this game. “The guys are settling into new roles without Eddie Burgess,” Coach Derrick Dengler told KGRN’s Chris Varney. More from the coach toward the end of this story.
Cole Watts scored 31 points for Montezuma and did it in the first three quarters. He nailed six treys. He was 10-for-14 from the field, including six-for-eight from on three-pointers. He also led the team with 11 rebounds.
Trey Shearer scored 20 points, also in the first three periods. He led in assists with seven. And in steals with six.
But speaking of assists – Montezuma assisted on 26 of its 36 made field goals! There was some good passing involved, and some tough screening, too. Masin Shearer added five assists to the total, and Cole Watts had five.
Gavin Strong scored 13 points for the Braves on five-for-five shooting, including a pair of three-pointers. Owen Cook had 11 points and Masin Shearer scored nine.
The Braves led 29-13 after one quarter, then dropped in five three-balls in a row to open a 44-13 lead. They wound up with nine treys in the first half.
Cole Watts scored 25 points in the first half. Trey Shearer had 12, Gavin Strong had 10, and Masin Shearer had nine.
Montezuma made just two turnovers in the first three quarters and led 85-35 after that period.
Tri-County had a modest number of turnovers – 16 – but had problems getting good looks against Montezuma’s defense.
The Braves finished the pre-holidays portion of their season at 7-2 overall and 6-1 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
The Braves shot .632 from the field, and limited the Trojans to 45 field goal attempts and 18 makes (.400).
Eli Molyneaux, a sophomore, led the Trojans with 13 points on five-for-nine field goal shooting. Dylan Icenbice scored nine points and David Gillam had eight.
Tri-County is 0-8 and 0-7.
THE COACH COMMENTS – “The North Mahaska game was an eye-opener for us,” Dengler said. “Rebounding is the most glaring area for us. All five guys have to box out and go get the ball.”
“We’re hopeful Eddie (Burgess) will play, but it will be well after the break” Dengler said.
“We’ve had to dial up our quickness more,” the coach said. “It’s a process and we’ve taken steps forward.”
“Trey Shearer just keeps getting better,” Dengler said about the senior guard who averages 31.8 points and six rebounds. “Cole Watts has really stepped up, in rebounding especially.”
Watts is averaging a team-leading nine rebounds a game. “He has gotten a lot stronger,” Dengler said. Watts also is averaging 21.7 points per contest.
“Owen Cook is averaging five points and six rebounds,” the coach said, noting that none of the Montezuma regulars is over six feet tall. “Owen just gives us great effort, hustle and he’s a smart player.”
UP NEXT – Montezuma is at English Valleys on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Tri-County 13 14 8 8 – 43
Montezuma 29 38 18 11 – 96
MONTEZUMA (96)
Cam Johnson 2-4, 1-2, 0, 5. Masin Shearer 3-5, 0-0, 1, 9. Cole Watts 10-14, 5-6, 0, 31. Trey Shearer 10-16, 0-0, 2, 22. Owen Cook 5-9, 0-0, 2, 11. Garrett Watts 1-4, 0-0, 2, 3. Sawyer Tindle 0-0, 0-1, 1, 0. Maguire De Jong 0-0,1-2, 0, 1. Gavin Strong 5-5, 1-1, 2, 13. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 1-2, 2, 1. Camden Michalek 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Ryan Cheney 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 36-57, 9-14, 12, 96
TRI-COUNTY (43)
TOTALS 18-45, 3-8, 12, 43.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Tri-County 16, Montezuma 8.
Three-point goals: Tri-County 4-15; Montezuma 15-25 (C. Watts 6-8, M. Shearer 3-4, Strong 2-2, T. Shearer 2-5, Cook 1-2, G. Watts 1-3, Johnson 0-1).
Rebounds: Tri-County 17, Montezuma 35 (C. Watts 11, T. Shearer 6, Cook 6, Johnson 3, G. Watts 2, Tindle 2, M. Shearer 1, Kercheval 1, Michalek 1, Strong 2).
Assists: Tri-County 10, Montezuma 26 (T. Shearer 7, M. Shearer 6, C. Watts 5, Johnson 3, G. Watts 3, De Jong 1, Strong 1).
Steals: Tri-County 2, Montezuma 11 (T. Shearer 6, C. Watts 2, Johnson 1, M. Shearer 1, Strong 1).
Blocks: Tri-County 3, Montezuma 2 (Cheney 1, C. Watts 1).
