GRUNDY CENTER – A tall, athletic Grundy Center pounded Montezuma on the offensive glass and beat the Braves, 69-50, on Tuesday evening, Feb. 7, in the Braves’ final regular season basketball game.
The Spartans, 16-4 and rated 8th in Class 2A and use their length (a number of players between 6-3 and 6-6) to get offensive rebounds and putbacks, and to close out from above when the Braves tried to shoot from three-point range.
Grundy Center led 19-12 after one quarter, then hit the Braves with a 23-5 blitz in the second quarter to lead 42-17 at halftime.
“Credit to Grundy Center, they were a very talented team and definitely strong in the areas we need to improve,” said Montezuma Coach Derrick Dengler.
Montezuma didn’t want the chance to play against a good team right before the tournament go to waste. The Braves upped the tempo as the second half began and went on an 11-0 run to start the quarter.
Three-pointers by Brady Boulton, Owen Cook and Masin Shearer spiced the run, which cut Grundy Center’s 25-point lead to under 20 points briefly before the Spartans went back to work defensively.
Grundy Center handled the ball well, making it difficult for the Braves to sustain an up-tempo game.
The Braves, who rarely used pump fakes in the first half, did more of that in the second and wound up hittng 6 treys in the second half.
Masin Shearer dropped in 21 points for the Braves as his quickness helped him find openings against taller opponents.
“This was and eye opener that hopefully prepares us for the post season,” said Dengler.
The Braves fell to 15-6 for the regular season.
Grundy Center rose to 16-4.
THIS WAS Grundy Center’s first win over the Braves in the last five games the teams have played.
UP NEXT – Montezuma opens post-season play at home on Monday, Feb. 13, hosting BCLUW (6-14) at 7 p.m.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 12 5 16 17 – 50
Grundy Center 19 23 17 10 – 69
MONTEZUMA (50)
Jack Erselius 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Gavin Strong 2-3, 1-2, 1, 5. Masin Shearer 8-13, 3-4, 1, 21. Garrett Watts 3-8, 0-0, 0, 6. David Rose 1-2, 0-0, 0, 3. Brady Boulton 3-11, 0-0, 2, 7. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Owen Cook 2-6, 0-0, 2, 5. Kohen Holland 0-2, 0-0, 3, 0. Max Anderson 0-3, 0-0, 3, 0. Briar Simpson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Bryson Stockman 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Broox Stockman 1-1, 0-0, 0, 3. TOTALS – 20-49, 4-6, 10, 50.
GRUNDY CENTER (69)
TOTALS – 29-57, 6-11, 8, 69.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attepted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 6-23 (Shearer 2-6, Rose 1-1, Cook 1-3, Brx Stockman 1-1, Watts 0-1, Holland 0-2, Andeson 0-3, Boulton 1-6); GC 5-14.
Turnovers: Montezuma 7, GC 6.
Rebounds: Montezuma 19 (Cook 5, Strong 3, Boulton 2, Sharer 2, Watts 2, Benson 1, Holland 1, Anderson 1, Bx Stockman 1, Rose 1); GC 36.
Assists: Montezuma 7 (Shearer 3, Boulton 1, Cook 1, Bry Stockman 1, Brx Stockman 1).
Steals: Montezuma 3 (Strong 1, Shearer 1, Cook 1).