No. 13 in Class 1A, Montezuma, defending their home turf Friday with a 52-40 victory over Class 2A North Mahaska. It was the Bravettes winning the free throw contest to top North Mahaska.
There were 39 free throws taken in the foul-fest contest. The Bravettes hit 15-of-22 while North Mahaska sank just 3-of-17.
“We missed too many free throws and that was the ball game,” said NM coach L.E. Moore. “We had trouble getting some shots to fall but missing that many free throws hurt us tonight. We have to get better.”
Despite the trouble at the line North Mahaska (11-2, 9-1) led the entire first half taking a 19-17 lead into the locker room. NM was 3-for-4 in the first half. The second half saw the Warhawks go to the line 13 times and hit just one. NM trailed 37-32 entering the fourth period and was forced to foul. Monte went 10-of-14 at the line the final frame.
R.D. Keep/NM Communications
North Mahaska’s Sydney Andersen draws a crowd of Montezuma defenders as Vivian Cook (4), Sydnee Burgess (5) and Shiressa Wetering bottle her up. Andersen scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 52-40 loss to Montezuma.
The Bravettes also won the battle of the long ball dropping in seven 3-pointers while North Mahaska hit just two.
Sydney Andersen had a solid game inside for North Mahaska with 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Breckyn Schilling, who went of the game late in the third period with an injury, finished with eight points, two assists and a block. Aly Steil scored seven with three steals and three assists. Regan Grew added six points and six rebounds.
Montezuma (11-2, 8-2) had two in double figures with Shiressa Wettering leading the way with 15. Ellen Cook scored 10 points with seven assists and five rebounds.
North Mahaska, who is tied with Lynnville-Sully for the conference lead, has a busy week. They travel to Baxter Monday then hosts HLV on Tuesday. They will play at L-S on Friday in a rivalry game that could determine who controls the race for the league crown.