VICTOR – When a team has a slow start on offense, does it indicate an uptick in defense is on the way?
It did Tuesday night, Jan. 18, for the Montezuma Bravettes, who turned up the heat on defense after trailing 9-6 after one quarter against HLV.
The result was a 53-24 Montezuma win – the 100th career victory for Coach Janel Burgess.
Braves boys Coach Derrick Dengler reached his 100th career win just last week.
“Our defensive intensity had to increase after the first quarter and that was the key to impacting the outcome of the game,” Burgess said.
The Bravettes didn’t shoot well. HLV’s defense? Just an off-night shooting? A bit of both, perhaps?
Whatever, the Bravettes shot .273 from the field. Their norm, including this game, is .379. That included .194 on three-pointers (norm is .329).
Still, “our team played very solid on both ends of the court tonight,” Burgess said.
Nine points in the first wound up being HLV’s best quarter. Meanwhile, the Bravettes went on a 20-7 run in the second to lead 26-16 at halftime. It was 40-22 after three periods.
Three Bravettes reached double figures: Shanae Wetering with 17 points, Mia Boulton with 16 and Jadyn Sharer with 10.
Boulton sank four three-pointers, grabbed four rebounds and had seven of 20 Bravettes steals.
Kallie Robison led Montezuma rebounders with five, while Izzy Roorda had four.
Shanae Wetering had four assists.
“On offense, we are adding more diversity within our flow,” Burgess said.
She described it this way: “Seeing the ball go inside, then back outside, seeing all guards start to penetrate to score, or kick out the ball. We are getting low post scores,” Burgess said. “There are a lot of fun things occurring.”
Montezuma moved its record to 12-2 overall and to 10-1 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
“This group has truly grown and that is what is the most enjoyable,” Burgess said.
HLV stands at 3-11 and 3-8.
UP NEXT – The Bravettes host Lynnville-Sully on Friday evening, Jan. 21.
“Friday will be a great opportunity to test us, with a well-coached Lynnville-Sully team coming to town,” said Montezuma’s coach. “We know we must continue to focus on our growth and make each other better daily.”
THERE WAS no JV girls game played at HLV on Tuesday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 6 20 14 13 – 53
HLV 9 7 6 3 – 24
MONTEZUMA (53) – Madison Johannes 1-8, 1-2, 0, 3. Shanae Wetering 5-17, 6-8, 4, 17. Mia Boulton 6-18, 0-0, 0, 16. Jadyn Sharer 3-10, 3-3, 1, 10. Korrinn Kehoe 1-2, 0-0, 1, 2. Madison Van Zee 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Jordan Ranfeld 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Ellen Cook 1-7, 0-1, 0, 2. Kallie Robison 1-2, 0-0, 0, 2. Shiressa Wetering 0-2, 1-2, 0, 1. TOTALS – 18-66, 11-16, 8, 53.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total point.
Turnovers: 10.
Three-point goals: 6-31 (Boulton 4-15, Shan. Wetering 1-3, Sharer 1-6, Cook 0-3, Johannes 0-4).
Rebounds: 26 (Robison 5, Boulton 4, Roorda 4, Johannes 3, Shan. Wetering 3, Sharer 3, Cook 2, Shir. Wetering 1, Van Zee 1).
Assists: 7 (Shan. Wetering 4, Boulton 2, Kehoe 1).
Steals: 20 (Boulton 7, Roorda 3, Shan. Wetering 2, Kehoe 2, Cook 2, Robison 2, Johannes 1, Sharer 1).
Block: 1 (Boulton).