Gavin Strong scored 20 points – 14 of them in a torrid second half shooting display – but it’s a pass he’ll probably remember years from now.
It was a Lynnville-Sully pass – one that didn’t reach its target, thanks to Strong – that he’ll have filed in his memory bank.
With the Braves leading 53-52 and 3.3 seconds left, the Hawks rebounded a missed Montezuma free throw. Strong anticipated a long pass down the scorer’s bench sldeline, locked in step, and intercepted as time ran out.
Game, set. . .and what a match!
The Braves’ 53-52 victory at home keeps them ahead of Lynnville-Sully in the South Iowa Cedar League boys basketball chase as both teams pursue league-leading North Mahaska.
Both teams threw heavy defenses at each other. The side that attacked the basket more often seemed to have more success.
That was Lynnville-Sully early. The Hawks scored the game’s first 11 points and led 26-18 at halftime.
But it was Montezuma after intermission. The Braves opened the third quarter with an 11-2 run, taking their first lead at 29-28 on Strong’s short runner in the lane with 3:53 left in the third quarter.
Montezuma outscored the Hawks 35-26 in the second half.
The Hawks were effective off set plays and made a late run that resulted in a three-pointer from the right corner and a 52-52 tie in the final 10 seconds.
The Braves had been getting production from post forward Eddie Burgess, and that’s where Montezuma went again. Burgess was fouled while shooting, with 3.3 seconds left. He made the first free throw, and appeared to miss the second one on purpose, perhaps to make the Hawks to make decisions on the fly in their final attempt to win.
Then came Strong’s interception.
Strong drained six three-point baskets, including four in the second half.
Burgess scored 15 points, with 9 coming after halftime. He also pulled down 13 rebounds.
Guard Masin Shearer scored 11 points.
We’ll have more detail and Lynnville-Sully highlights after we’ve seen both scoresheets.
Friday’s win put Montezuma at 11-3 overall and 10-2 in league play.
Lynnville-Sully stands at 10-5, and 9-4 against the league.
UP NEXT – Montezuma’s teams host Colfax-Mingo on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Braves are in District 10
Boys Class 1A district basketball play starts Feb. 14, and Montezuma has been placed into District 10.
The District 10 schools: BGM, English Valleys, Iowa Valley, Keota, Montezuma, New London, Pekin, Sigourney, Tri-County and WACO.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Lynnville-Sully 15 11 12 14 – 52
Montezuma 5 13 19 16 – 53
MONTEZUMA (53) – Gavin Strong 7-14, 0-0, 2, 20. Masin Shearer 4-9, 2-4, 0, 11. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Owen Cook 3-9, 0-0, 1, 7. Eddie Burgess 6-7, 3-5, 2, 15. Max Anderson 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Maguire De Jong 0-2, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 20-42, 5-9, 6, 53.
LYNNVILLE-SULLY (52) – TOTALS – 23-46, 1-2, 14, 52.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 4, Lynnville-Sully 5.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 8-20 (Strong 6-11, Shearer 1-4, Cook 1-4, Anderson 0-1); Lynnville-Sully 5-14.
Rebounds: Montezuma 23 (Burgess 13, Strong 4, Shearer 2, Benson 2, Cook 1, De Jong 1); Lynnville-Sully 22.
Assists: Montezuma 13 (Burgess 8, Strong 2, Shearer 2, Cook 1).
Steals: Montezuma 2 (Strong 1, Anderson 1).
Blocks: Montezuma 2 (Burgess 2).