DES MOINES – In a battle of iron wills and great defenses, Wapsie Valley created separation in the fourth quarter and pulled away from Montezuma, 57-42, in a Class 1A state semi-finals game Wednesday afternoon, March 11.
The Braves trailed just 35-31 through three quarters, but Warriors guard Kobe Risse hit a three-pointer after a Montezuma turnover, then 6-7 post Kiks Rosengarten scored inside to push the Wapsie Valley lead to 40-31 with 6:30 left to go.
The Braves extended their 2-3 zone, creating some seams which Wapsie Valley found as it outscored the Braves 22-11 in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Montezuma shot just .350 from the field, including 5-for-23 (.220) from three-point range against the stingiest defense they have seen.
Wapsie Valley controlled tempo and did not allow the Braves to get out in transition or create a rhythm on offense.
Montezuma’s defense was solid, too – the game was a “grinder,” – but played at the Warriors’ pace.
Gunner Meyer, a 6-4 sophomore, led Wapsie Valley with 17 points. Rosengarten had 14 and Risse did the same. Rosengarten also had 10 rebounds.
Trey Shearer scored 16 for the Braves and Brayden Arendt, who had seven in the first quarter, finished with 12. Eddie Burgess scored six for the Braves, but had 10 rebounds.
Cole Watts, the Braves’ second-leading scorer, got close attention from the Warriors, and finished with three points, as did freshman guard Masin Shearer. Gavin Strong scored two for the Braves in the closing seconds.
Wapsie Valley shot. .470 from the field and .420 from three-point range. The Warriors were 12-for-16 from the line, but only put Montezuma on the line for three free throws, which the Braves made.
Wapsie Valley led by just three in rebounds, but hurt the Braves on the offensive boards at times by running down missed three-pointers.
Montezuma made eight turnovers, to seven by the Warriors, who will take a 20-7 record into Friday’s championship game.
ONE MORE GAME – The 24-3 Braves will play in the third-place game at 10:20 Thursday morning, March 12, against 24-3 Sheffield West Fork. Algona Bishop Garrigan pulled away late to score a 66-52 win over West Fork in the other semi-final game.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Wapsie Valley 17 9 9 22 – 57
Montezuma 12 11 8 11 – 42
WAPSIE VALLEY (57) – Blayde Bellis 3-11, 102, 1, 9. Kobe Risse 3-5, 7-7, 1, 14. Tyler Ott 1-4, 0-1, 3, 3. Kiks Rosengarten 6-11, 2-3, 2, 14. Gunner Meyer 6-7, 2-3, 1, 17. Johnny Kerns 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Dallas Wittenburg 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Brody Stark 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Andrew Westphal 0-3, 0-0, 1, 0. Garrett Barnes 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Casey O’Donnell 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Parker Lansgard 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 19-41, 12-16, 9, 57.
MONTEZUMA (42) – Brayden Arendt 5-14, 0-0, 3, 12. Masin Shearer 1-5, 0-0, 2, 3. Cole Watts 1-4, 0-0, 2, 3. Trey Shearer 7-18, 1-1, 4, 16. Eddie Burgess 2-7, 3-3, 4, 6. Brydon Henning 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Joey Kercheval 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Owen Cook 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Gavin Strong 1-1, 0-0, 0, 2. Brody Chidester 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 17-49, 3-3, 15, 42.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Wapsie Valley 7, Montezuma 8.
Rebounds: Wapsie Valley 29 (Rosengarten 10, Risse 7, Ott 4, Meyer 4, Bellis 3, O’Donnell 1); Montezuma 26 (Burgess 10, T. Shearer 5, Watts 4, Arendt 4, M. Shearer 1, Cook 1, team 1).
Three-point goals: Wapsie Valley 7-17 (Meyer 3-4, Bellis 2-6, Risse 1-2, Ott 1-2, Westphal 0-3); Montezuma 5-23 (Arendt 2-9, M. Shearer 1-4, Watts 1-3, T. Shearer 1-6, Burgess 0-1).
Assists: Wapsie Valley 10 (Risse 5, Bellis 2, Ott 2, Rosengarten 1); Montezuma 7 (Burgess 4, Watts 2, T. Shearer 1).
Steals: Wapsie Valley 4 (Meyer 2, Bellis 1, Ott 1); Montezuma 1 (Burgess 1).
Blocks: Wapsie Valley 4 (Bellis 1, Rosengarten 1, Meyer 1, Landsgard 1); Montezuma 2 (Burgess 2).