NEW SHARON – North Mahaska built a 13-point lead through three quarters, then weathered a fourth quarter rally by the Braves to score a 49-46 win over Montezuma Tuesday night, Jan. 31.
The key for North Mahaska was a defense that limited the Braves to .286 field goal shooting for the game. The Braves did make 12 three-point baskets, but needed 40 attempts (.300) in order to do it.
“North Mahaska really commits to taking away layups,” said Braves Coach Derrick Dengler. “As a result, we shoot a lot of threes against them. We took some shots that probably were a little quick, but we did need to take most of them. They just didn’t fall early in the game.”
But, they started to. In fact, the Braves led 46-45 and were shooting for more with about a minute left on the clock. The shot missed and in the scramble to get the offensive rebound, the Braves were whistled for a foul.
That put the Warhawks on the line. They converted to get the lead back, “and then we didn’t get good shots off after that,” Dengler said.
Its own troubles with Montezuma’s defense, shooting a modest .344 from the field. But the Warhawks had a 41-29 lead in rebounds.
Gavin Strong scored 13 points for the Braves. Masin Shearer and Owen Cook each had 11, and Brady Boulton scored 9.
Forward Garrett Watts, who had been scoring well of late, got just two points in this game. “I don’t think they did anything special against Garrett other than he had Nash Smith – who is a good athlete and probably 6-7 (Watts is 6-1) guarding him,” Dengler said. “That made it tough for Garrett to score around the hoop.”
But, Cook made up for some of that with his 11-point game.
Two free throws made by Watts came on Montezuma’s only trip to the free throw line in the game.
Braden Steel, 6-4, led North Mahaska with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Lane Harmon and Ethan Huffman each scored 10 and Huffman had four assists.
Nolan Anderson, 6-3, had 10 rebounds.
North Mahaska led 26-22 at halftime, then outscored Montezuma 15-6 in the third quarter.
The win lifted North Mahaska to 16-3 overall and to 14-2 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
The Braves fell to 15-4, and 12-4.
UP NEXT – The Braves and Bravettes are at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Friday, Feb. 3.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 13 9 6 18 – 46
North Mahaska 14 12 15 8 – 49
MONTEZUMA (46)
Gavin Strong 5-14, 0-0, 2, 13. Masin Shearer 4-12, 0-0, 2, 11. Garrett Watts 0-5, 2-2, 3, 2. Brady Boulton 3-12, 0-0, 4, 9. Colton Benson 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. Owen Cook 4-10, 0-0, 0, 11. Kohen Holland 00, 0-0, 0, 11. Max Anderson 0-3, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS – 16-56, 2-2, 12, 46.
NORTH MAHASKA (49)
TOTALS – 21-61, 5-8, 8, 49.
Line score legend: field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Three-pointers: Montezuma 12-40 (Cook 3-7, Boulton 3-9, Shearer 3-9, Strong 3-10, Anderson 0-2, Watts 0-3); North Mahaska 2-15.
Turnovers: Montezuma 15, North Mahaska 17.
Rebounds: Montezuma 29 (Watts 6, Shearer 5, Strong 5, Boulton 4, Cook 4, Benson 2, Andeson 2, Holland 1); North Mahaska 41.
Assists: Montezuma 8 (Strong 2, Shearer 2, Watts 2, Boulton 1, Cook 1).
Steals: Montezuma 8 (Boulton 5, Shearer 2, Watts 1).
Deflections: Montezuma 4 (Strong 1, Shearer 1, Boulton 1, Anderson 1).