WILLIAMSBURG – The rangy Williamsburg Raiders finished at the rim.
The Montezuma Braves had trouble getting TO the rim.
The larger school and taller team (Class 3A) prevailed, 75-67, in a fast-moving boys basketball game Saturday evening, Dec. 19.
Williamsburg fielded several players in the 6-3 to 6-4 range and they and their teammates kept their feet and hands moving throughout the contest.
The Raiders were tough on the boards and they were hard to defend when they executed basic pick-and-roll maneuvers.
Still, the Braves made a game of it. Montezuma trailed by eight to 11 points much of the second half, before Trey Shearer dropped in three consecutive three-balls to draw Montezuma close.
Shearer had a chance to give Montezuma a lead after three quarters, but missed a three-pointer. The Raiders pushed their lead back out in the fourth quarter and protected it with free throws.
Trey Shearer (28) and Cole Watts (27) combined for 55 of the Braves’ 67 points. Masin Shearer and Gavin Strong added six each.
Ballhandling was sharp on both sides, with each team making 12 turnovers.
Montezuma scored 13 baskets from three-point range, to six by the Raiders. But five of those came during a 25-point Williamsburg second quarter, which allowed the home team to put a little distance between themselves and their visitors.
Montezuma fell to 6-2 overall with the non-conference loss.
Williamsburg, a Class 3A school, is 4-3.
UP NEXT – Montezuma will host Tri-County on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 8 18 22 19 – 67
Williamsburg 12 25 16 23 – 75
MONTEZUMA (67)
Cam Johnson 0-4, 0-0, 4, 0. Masin Shearer 3-8, 0-0, 1, 6. Cole Watts 8-13, 5-6, 3, 27. Trey Shearer 7-21, 9-10, 3, 28. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0. Gavin Strong 2-3, 0-0, 1, 6. TOTALS – 20-49, 14-16, 14, 67.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made- attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 12, Williamsburg 12.
Three-point goals: 13-35 (Watts 6-10, T. Shearer 5-6, Strong 2-3, Johnson 0-3, M. Shearer 0-3).
Rebounds: 23 (Watts 7, T. Shearer 6, Cook 4, M. Shearer 3, Strong 2, Johnson 1).
Assists: 8 (T. Shearer 4, M. Shearer 3, Watts 1).
Steals: 4 (T. Shearer 3, M. Shearer 1).
Blocks: none.