50171
By Keith Brake
Montezuma Magazine Editor
With a young team intent on learning, you just never know which player might step up and do something sensational.
When several of them do it in the same game, the results can be spectacular.
It was senior Jadyn Sharer’s turn in the Class 1A Region 8 title tilt against CAM.
She had a run of six treys in eight attempts as Montezuma asserted control in its 60-47 win.
“I made seven of them against HLV,” Sharer told Energy 106.7’s Chris Varney after the game. “I had a few against Sigourney, too,” she said.
“I was starting to wonder when it was going to happen again,” she said.
It happened! She led the Bravettes with 20 points.
Jadyn ran her cuts, her teammates passed her the ball in position for her to shoot. She splashed them down. Maybe, when this country finally takes another manned mission back to the moon, she’ll be the one steering the spacecraft to a precise, safe landing . . .from long distance!
‘This is amazing! I can’t describe how great I feel,” Sharer said.
Sharer admitted the Bravettes were nervous at the start of the game, by the surroundings and the importance of the game.
Montezuma fell behind early to a team that really, really wanted to get out to a fast start against the Bravettes.
“CAM’s press was stressful,” Sharer said. Varney mentioned that the Bravette combination that seemed to cruise through CAM’s pressure included Ellen Cook, Vivian Cook, Sydnee Burgess and Sharer.
“After we found our open people we were steady,” Sharer said. “I believed we could do it. I believe in each of these girls.”
“We went in 28-28 at halftime and we were pumped,” said Jadyn.
“The Cooks are just amazing ballhandlers,” Sharer said.
“Even when we were down, I knew we could come back.”
Did they ever, pulling away late to win by 13 points.
Montezuma made 13 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter, including an 8-for-10 effort by Ellen Cook, who played add-on with Montezuma’s lead.
CAM rode in to the game on the effort of its defense.
Montezuma rode out of Norwalk after displaying its defense.
A key play seemed to be when CAM scoring leader Eva Steffensen came out of the game after picking up her second foul.
CAM’s movement on offense seemed jammed at times after that happened.
Part of that, possibly: Montezuma started winning races to 50-50 balls, ones that either team might have pounced on.
The Bravettes got rebounds and possessions and drilled free throws (18-for-22). Montezuma played 8 girls. All got rebounds as the Bravettes were 37-29 winners in that important department.
The teams were even in turnovers. Montezuma made 10 three-point baskets to CAM’s five – with none of those coming from Steffensen, who was the team’s leader by far in three-pointers.
Montezuma led 14-12 in assists and 10-6 in steals.
The hits just keep coming from this band of girls.
“This team is just so selfless and driven to be their best for each other,” Coach Janel Burgess said. “They have hearts bigger than I’ve ever seen.”
“We are so thankful to be able to be together for another week,” the coach said. “We will grow and have a lot of fun as we prepare to travel to Des Moines to play in the state tournament.”
“We are so excited to take our girls to the greatest high school event in the state,” Burgess said.
Are you concerned about the Bravettes having to play top-seeded North Linn? If you’re going to be the best, you’ve got to play against and beat the best.
The Bravettes didn’t have to schedule this opponent. They earned the right – the privilege – by their play on the court.
So. . . why not the best?