MONROE – Sometimes in order to close a door, you have to open a window.
PCM’s defenders knew that Montezuma’s Mia Boulton had bombed in 13 three-pointers in her previous two games. The Mustangs put extra pressure on Boulton, in effect closing a door.
But, more than one window was open, and Bravettes forward Shanae Wetering flew in and haunted the Mustangs.
Wetering scored 27 points and the Bravettes beat their larger school neighbor, 59-45 Thursday evening, Dec. 2.
“We played solid and had to score in different ways to be successful,” said Montezuma Coach Janel Burgess.
Wetering was deadly off short drives. If she didn’t score field goals, she got herself to the line – 21 times in all. She made 14 free throws.
Montezuma led 14-6 after one quarter, then a 14-0 Bravettes run pushed the lead out to 28-6.
PCM ran a pair of treys and a two to cut into the lead, and were still in contention at the half, trailing 31-22.
But Wetering got going again in the third quarter, and Boulton revved up, too.
Montezuma led 46-31 though three quarters and held it there.
Boulton finished with 11 points for Montezuma. Ellen Cook had seven, and Jadyn Sharer scored six.
Montezuma wound up 24-of-36 from the free throw line. It was a good thing the Bravettes got to the line: They shot .254 from the field, on 15 makes in 59 attempts.
Montezuma’s quick man-to-man defense forced many PCM turnovers through the first three quarters. The Mustangs finished with 31 of them.
“Our defense is coming along,” Burgess said. “We will need to grow in helpside defense, for sure, even though we were better in this game.”
The win pushed the Bravettes out to 3-0 on the season, while the Mustangs are 0-3.
UP NEXT – Montezuma is at Lynnville-Sully on Friday night.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 12 19 14 14 – 59
PCM 6 16 9 14 – 45
MONTEZUMA (59) – Madison Johannes 0-6, 1-2, 0, 1. Shanae Wetering 6-19, 14-21, 4, 27. Mia Boulton 3-10, 4-5, 1, 11. Jadyn Sharer 2-8, 1-2, 2, 6. Korrinn Kehoe 1-2, 0-0, 2, 3. Ellen Cook 3-12, 0-2, 1, 7. Izzy Roorda 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0. Kallie Robison 0-2, 4-4, 1, 4. Shiressa Wetering 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS – 15-59, 24-36, 12, 59.
PCM (45) TOTALS – 18-45, 5-9, 23, 45.
Line score legend: Field goals made-attempted, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
Turnovers: Montezuma 9, PCM 31.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 5-24 (Shan. Wetering 1-2, Kehoe 1-1, Boulton 1-6, Sharer 1-3, Cook 1-7, Johannes 0-5); PCM 4-17.
Rebounds: Montezuma 24 (Shan. Wetering 9, Robison 4, Sharer 3, Johannes 2, Boulton 2, Kehoe 2, Cook 1, Shir. Wetering 1); Pcm 28.
Assists: Montezuma 2 (Johannes 1, Shan. Wetering 1); PCM 8.
Steals: Montezuma 6 (Boulton 2, Johannes 1, Shan. Wetering 1, Cook 1, Robison 1): PCM 5.
Blocks: Montezuma none, PCM 3.
PCM leaders – Scoring: Addison Steenhoek 12; rebounds: Paige Steenhoek 7.