Junior guard Trey Shearer threw down 45 points, but it was an 11-0 run by Montezuma midway through the first quarter that set the tone for the Braves in their 67-55 district semifnal win over North Mahaska .
The game was played Tuesday evening, Feb. 25 in Montezuma, and the result sends the 21-2 Braves into Thursday night’s district championship game.
A young (three freshmen regulars) and rapidly-improving Warhawks team jumped out to an early 10-5 lead. But the Braves cranked up their defense, Trey Shearer started connecting, and Montezuma controlled tempo.
The Braves led 22-17 after one quarter, 38-28 at halftime, and 54-45 through three quarters.
Addy Bollman’s three-ball got the Warhawks to within 38-37 midway through the third, but then the Braves went on another run.
Montezuma killed some clock late, and single free throws by Masin Shearer and Trey Shearer, plus a Cole Watts rebound and pass to Trey Shearer for a layup, moved Montezuma out of danger in the final 90 seconds.
Trey Shearer’s 45 came on six three-pointers, 11 twos and five-for-seven from the line. He also had eight rebounds.
Cole Watts scored 11 and did some tough work on the boards, with post player Eddie Burgess struggling with foul trouble.
Burgess did score six points. Masin Shearer had three and Brayden Arendt had two.
Nash Smith, a 6-5 freshman, scored 14 points for the Warhawks and Bollman, a 6-4 junior, had 11. Braden Steel, a 6-3 freshman, scored 10 and Dylan Klinker, a 5-8 junior, had nine.
North Mahaska closed at 12-10
UP NEXT – The Braves, 21-2, take on Keota, 20-3, at 7 Thursday evening, Feb. 27, in Williamsburg. J.D. Stout dropped in 45 as the Eagles beat BGM 85-66 in the other district semifinal.
Thursday’s winner will advance to Saturday’s sub-state game in Knoxville.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
North Mahaska 17 11 17 10 – 55
Montezuma 22 16 16 13 – 67
MONTEZUMA (67) – Brayden Arendt 0-1, 2-2, 1, 2. Masin Shearer 1-5, 1-3, 0, 3. Cole Watts 4-11, 0-0, 1, 11. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Trey Shearer 17-24, 5-7, 1, 45. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Gavin Strong 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Eddie Burgess 2-4, 2-2, 3, 6. TOTALS – 24-45, 10-14, 6, 67.
NORTH MAHASKA (55)
TOTALS – 20-4, 6-6, 12, 55.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 10, North Mahaska 11.
Rebounds: Montezuma 28 (T. Shearer 8, M. Shearer 6, Watts 6, Arendt 4, Cook 2, Burgess 2); North Mahaska 21.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 9-21 (T. Shearer 6-9, Watts 3-9, M. Shearer 2-2, Arendt 0-1); North Mahaska 9-24.
Montezuma assists: M. Shearer 4, Watts 4, T. Shearer 3, Strong 1, Burgess 1).
Montezuma steals: Watts 2, Burgess 2, Arendt 1, T. Shearer 1.
Montezuma deflections: M. Shearer 2, Arendt 1.
Montezuma blocks: Arendt 1.