When North Mahaska and Montezuma meet for any event there is a high level of anxiety. Thursday afternoon the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union added fuel to the fire ranking Montezuma No. 3 in Class 1A while NM was ranked fourth in Class 2A. Both teams started slow but North Mahaska picked up steam in the second half to rout their rivals 51-32 in South Iowa Cedar League play.
North Mahaska led much of the game with three ties and nine lead changes. NM led 8-5 at the end of the first quarter and 18-17 at half. Montezuma’s Claire Erselius hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 22-22. The Warhawks sored the next 12 points leaving the Bravettes behind for a 34-22 advantage entering the final frame.
Ten North Mahaska players played and all but three scored a basket. Montezuma had eight players enter the game with five scoring. North Mahaska received seven points from the bench to three for Monte.
“We had a lot of payers come in and play 20 to 30 seconds to give us some rest,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “I think late in the game they were getting tired. Jo (Jolan Fogle) came in and gave a boost at the end). I’m pleased with our first game and how we got up and down the court.”
North Mahaska had three players in double figures. Led by Breckyn Schilling with 17 points. Sydney Andersen had 16 and Regan Grewe finished with 10.
Ellen Cook led Monte with 10 points and Erselius had nine.
RD Keep/North Mahaska Communications
Montezuma’s Eileen Cook (3) is stopped by North Mahaska’s Regan Grewe in the first half of the Warhawks’ 51-32 victory. North Mahaska limited Cook to 10 points in the contest.
North Mahaska’s defense limited the Bravettes to 23.3 percent shooting from the field and outrebounded the Bravettes 26-17.
“Time will tell how good we are,” said Moore. “Montezuma is a tough team. We were able to battle them and win inside.”
North Mahaska turned the ball over 20 times to 16 for Monte but the Warhawks were able to capitalize on the turnovers. Ten of the turnovers were from steals. Schilling and Kayla Readshaw each recorded two. Schilling also doled out eight assists while Readshaw and Aly Steil each had three. Nataliya Linder had two assists and a blocked shot.
North Mahaska is idle during holiday week and will play again Friday, Dec. 3 at BGM.