IOWA CITY – In a game of runs, the Montezuma Bravettes made the final one.
The Bravettes will return to the state finals for a third straight year after outscoring Springville 25-8 in the fourth quarter, pulling away to a 77-57 win in the Class 1A Region 5 championship game Wednesday night, Feb. 26.
“We had girls stepping up in every conceivable way!” said Bravettes Coach Janel Burgess. “Shateah (Wetering) and Elise (Boulton) did their thing, but we had so many others stepping up.”
At state – #4 seed Montezuma vs. #5 seed Saint Ansgar, 3:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 4.
For example, senior Shelby Conger, who scored 11 points – all in the fourth quarter. Another: senior Maddy McKeag, with six three-pointers in the game.
The Bravettes made just four turnovers. “On 50-50 balls, we were right on them,” Burgess said.
Montezuma knocked in 14 three-pointers in the game.
It was a nervous start for the Bravettes who fell behind 7-0 and 16-7 during the first quarter.
But then Montezuma’s defense intensified and the Bravettes starting nailing shots. Elise Boulton hit a three-pointer from between the circles as the first quarter expired. That brought Montezuma’s deficit to just one point.
The Bravettes kept going, completing a 23-4 run and a 24-7 quarter to get Montezuma a 43-27 halftime lead.
Then came Springville’s second major run, sparked by the three-point shooting of sophomore guard Morgan Nachazel. Her free throw completed a 20-3 run by the Orioles, who trailed just 52-49 through three quarters.
Elise Boulton and Maddy McKeag opened the fourth quarter with treys to open the lead again, and the Bravettes added to it with free throws in the final three minutes.
McKeag hit those threes for the Bravettes, “and she played great defense, too,” Burgess said.
More on this later, and in the coming days.
UP NEXT – The Class 1A state tournament in Des Moines, which opens Wednesday afternoon, March 4. Montezuma has drawn the #4 seed and will face fifth-seeded Saint Ansgar (21-2), at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday in Wells Fargo Arena.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Springville 20 7 22 8 – 57
Montezuma 19 24 9 25 – 77
MONTEZUMA (77) – Maddy McKeag 6-9, 0-1, 1, 18. Shanae Wetering 205, 0-0, 0, 5. Mia Boulton 2-3, 0-0, 2, 6. Shateah Wetering 5-12, 10-10, 1, 20. Elise Boulton 4-10, 0-0, 1, 12. Carissa Van Zee 2-3, 1-2, 1, 5. Shelby Conger 5-8, 0-0, 2, 11. Dylan Holland 0-1, 0-0, 2, 0. TOTAL – 25-51, 11-13, 9, 77.
SPRINGVILLE (57)
TOTALS – 21-44, 6-9, 15, 5
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 4, Springville 11.
Rebounds: Montezuma 26 (McKeag 6, Shat. Wetering 6, E. Boulton 3, Holland 3, M. Boulton 2, Conger 2, Shan. Wetering 1, Van Zee 1, team 2); Springville 23.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 14-26 (McKeag 6-9, E. Boulton 4-8, M. Boulton 2-3, Conger 1-2, Shan. Wetering 1-1, Shat. Wetering 0-3); Springville 9-19.
Assists: Shat. Wetering 4, E. Boulton 4, M. Boulton 2, Conger 2, McKeag 1.
Steals: Shat. Wetering 3, E. Boulton 3, M. Boulton 2, Conger 1, McKeag 1.
Deflections: McKeag 2, Holland 2, Shan. Wetering 1, E. Boulton 1, Van Zee 1, Conger 1.
Blocks: none.
