North Mahaska’s quick, long-armed full-court pressure made a major difference, as the 8th-ranked Warhawks beat the 10th rated Bravettes, 55-37, in their first basketball meeting of the season.
The game was played Tuesday evening, Dec. 14 in Montezuma.
North Mahaska showed the press early and took a 17-10 lead after one quarter. But Bravettes guard Mia Boulton, after an 0-for-3 shooting start, began to connect.
The Bravettes got to within 26-21 by halftime.
North Mahaska’s defense had limited touches by Bravettes scoring leader Shanae Wetering, who got just 4 of her 14 points in the first half.
A strong inside game rolled most of the night for North Mahaska. But the Bravettes got some deflections in the open court and jammed some passing lanes in half court.
Boulton missed a three attempt that would have tied the game at 28 early in the third quarter. After that, things went south in a hurry for Montezuma.
Three baskets generated by the press put the Warhawks up 34-25 with 3:54 left in the third quarter as Warhawks freshman Brecklyn Schilling made all three of those in about 90 seconds.
North Mahaska helped to force 17 Bravettes turnovers.
Meanwhile, 6-foot North Mahaska forward Layla Hargis had her way inside. Entry passes to her were open and she produced 28 points on the night, to go with 16 rebounds.
North Mahaska outscored Montezuma 18-8 in the third period, taking a lead of 44-29 that the Bravettes didn’t challenge.
Wetering scored 14 points and had 8 rebounds for Montezuma and Boulton finished with 10 after netting 8 in the second half.
North Mahaska went to 6-1 overall and to 5-0 in South Iowa Cedar League play. Their lone loss was to a strong Schuyler County, Mo., team.
The Bravettes fell to 6-1 and 4-1. They host Sigourney on Friday.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
North Mahaska 17 9 18 11 – 55
Montezuma 10 11 8 8 – 37
MONTEZUMA (37) – Madison Johannes 2-7, 0-0, 3, 4. Shanae Wetering 7-11, 0-0, 2, 14. Mia Boulton 3-12, 3-3, 0, 10. Jadyn Sharer 2-9, 0-0, 1, 5. Kallie Robison 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Ellen Cook 2-11, 0-0, 3, 4. Shiressa Wetering 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. Korrinn Kehoe 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 16-51, 3-4, 11, 37.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal foul, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 17.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 2-17 (Boulton 1-8, Sharer 1-3, Johannes 0-2, Cook 0-4).
Rebounds: 26 (Shan. Wetering 8, Robison 5, Johannes 4, Boulton 4, Sharer 4, Shir. Wetering 1).
Assists: 2 (Cook 2).
Steals: 8 (Shan. Weterin 2, Boulton 2, Sharer 2, Robison 1, Cook 1).
North Mahaska leaders: Scoring – Layla Hargis 28, Brecklyn Schilling 15. Rebounds: Hargis 16, Schilling 5.