In the post-season, the bottom line is win, and you play another day.
The Montezuma Bravettes won.
But they found themselves in a ball game against Baxter, which trailed just 30-27 three minutes into the third quarter.
Montezuma cranked up its defense, outscored the Bolts 38-17 the rest of the way, and won its regional tourney opener, 68-44, Tuesday evening, Feb. 18 at home.
“Another day” is Friday, when they’ll host a third-round game against Collins-Maxwell in the Class 1A Region 5 tournament.
Senior guard Maddy McKeag came up huge in this one, dropping in eight three-point baskets for a game-high 24 points for the now-21-1 Bravettes.
Senior post Shateah Wetering scored 23 and senior swing player Shelby Conger also came up big with an even dozen.
Baxter, with three senior starters on a 13-10 team, got 13 points from Caitlyn Bruntz and 12 from McKenzie Eslinger.
Montezuma led 19-8 after one quarter, but good ball movement by Baxter helped the Bolts outscore Montezuma 15-11 in the second quarter to trail just 30-23 at the half.
Baxter scored the first two baskets of the third quarter to cut the lead to 30-27 and had a chance to tie the score with a trey. But the shot missed, Conger scored back-to-back baskets for Montezuma and the Bravettes were off to the races.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts against Friday, Feb. 21, against 19-4 Collins-Maxwell.