MONTEZUMA – You’re always concerned about how a team will respond to adversity if you’re a coach, a parent or a basketball fan.
The Montezuma Braves responded by flying the “W” Tuesday night, Dec. 9, after suffering their first loss the night before against Pekin.
Montezuma straight-lined iowa Valley, 84-38.
Junior forward Dane Strong scored 30 points to lead the offensive charge. It was the second time in three games that Strong has dropped in 30.
The Braves led 15-7 after one quarter and 36-22 by halftiime. But Montezuma cleared its bench while scoring 48 points in the second half.
Three Braves scored in double figures including Strong (30 points), Brady Boulton (24) and Talen Holland (15).
Montezuma had its best shooting night of the young season at 53.4% on 31-for-58.
Strong was 12-for-21 from the floor and reached a double-double by grabbing 13 rebounds. His scoring total included a 5-for-11 night from three-point range. He also blocked a shot.
Boulton was 6-for-11 from the field and went eight-for-nine from the free throw line. He also dished six assists and had four steals and five rebounds in an all-around effective game.
Holland was 7-for-11 from the field and added four rebounds and a blocked shot.
The Braves went to 3-1 on the season, and are 3-0 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
Iowa Valley fell to 0-3 overall.
Up next: Montezuma is scheduled to play at English Valleys on Friday, Dec. 12.
JV result: Montezuma won 26-15 in a game that consisted of two quarters of play. Ciao Araujo scored 9 points for the Braves. Thomas Heemstra and Kaden Latcham each had 4 points, and Heemstra blocked 3 shots.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Iowa Valley 7 15 8 8 – 38
Montezuma 15 21 24 24 – 84
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted; free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
MONTEZUMA (84): Dane Strong 12-21, 1-2, 3, 30; Easton Hudnut 2-8, 0-0, 3, 6; Talen Holland 7-11, 1-2, 2, 15; Luke Brennan 2-3, 0-0, 2, 15; Brady Boulton 6-11, 8-9, 2, 24; Brooks Wilson 2-2, 0-0, 0, 5; Kaden Latcham 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Broox Stockman 0-0, 0-0, 4, 0; Aidan Chidester 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Linkyn Bru 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Tommy Heemstra 0-2, 0-0, 1, 0; Breyer Chidester 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 31-58, 10-13, 17, 84.
Turnovers: 11.
Three-pointers: 12-28 (Strong 5-11, Boulton 4-8; Hudnut 2-8, Wilson 1-1).
Rebounds: 36 (Strong 13, Brennan 5, Boulton 5, Heemstra 4, Hudnut 2, Holland 4, Wilson 2, B. Chidester 1).
Assists: 15 (Boulton 6, Brennan 3, Strong 2, Wilson 1, Heemstra 2, Stockman 1).
Steals: 12 (Boulton 4, Strong 3, Brennan 3, Stockman 2.
Blocks: 4 (Strong 1, Holland 1, Wilson 1, Heemstra 1.