Girls Game
MONTEZUMA – Rankings when North Mahaska and Montezuma meet only add fire to the rivalry between these two storied South Iowa Cedar League foes. They came into the contest with the Warhawks rated No. 2 in Class 2A and Montezuma seventh in Class 1A. Montezuma was able to shoot better from beyond the arc to win 53-45.
Montezuma drilled 13 3-pointers to just four for the Warhawks. North Mahaska struggled from the floor hitting 30 percent and just 18.2 from the arc. NM went 18-for-60 from the floor while the Bravettes were an efficient 18-for-37 hitting just six shots inside the perimeter.
North Mahaska trailed 14-5 after one period then Monte’s Ellen Cook hit a basket to go up 16-5 with 6 minutes 47 seconds to play in the half. It was the Bravettes last points of the half. NM scored the next 11 points to tie the game at 16-16 at intermission.
In the third quarter Libby Hargis put the Warhawks ahead 28-27 on a short jumper. Montezuma hit threes on their next possessions to take control 36-28 entering the four quarter. Monte built a 13-point lead with 1:27 to play. Two quick long balls by Breckyn Schilling quickly cut the lead to seven with 43 seconds to play. NM was forced to foul and Cook went 4-for-4 at the line. Sydney Andersen earned a traditional 3-point play with 19 seconds left for the Warhawks.
Andersen led all scorers with 20 points for North Mahaska. Schilling was the only other Warhawk in doble figures with 23. She led the team’s rebounding with five.
Claire Erselius led Monte with 18 points. Cook had 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block. Burgess blocked three shots. Vivian Cook scored nine points with three assists.
When the two teams met in November at North Mahaska Monte’s long balls were limited and North Mahaska shot the ball well. The tables turned Friday. If both teams win out, they will share the conference title.
North Mahaska travels to HLV Tuesday. They return home Friday to host Lynnville-Sully. L-S is two games back of both North Mahaska and Montezuma.
Boys Game
North Mahaska took to the Montezuma basketball court with an all out aerial assault Friday. Both boys’ teams put up a combined 64 3-point shots but it was free throws that put the lid on a 59-56 North Mahaska win.
Montezuma jumped out on top to open the game leading 15-6 at one point in the first quarter. NM cut the lead but the Braves answered to take a 19-11 lead after one quarter. Max Anderson’s basket with 5 minutes 43 seconds to play in the half made the score 21-15. The Braves would not score again for the next five minutes when they tied the score 23-23 at halftime.
The third quarter was a back and forth game until Asher DeBoef’s 3-pointer at the end of the period, which gave North Mahaska a lead they were never relinquish.
The difference in the game was likely the free throw line. North Mahaska shot 11-for-17 at the line while the Braves only shot three hitting two. The Warhawks were 6-for-11 in the final period.
Four Warhawks finished in double figures led by Gabe Hora’s 18 points, DeBoef had a solid night with 16 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and a steal. Adrian Smith added 11 points, eight rebounds and a block. Lucas Nunnikhoven scored 10 points on two steals and two assists.
North Mahaska outrebounded Montezuma 35-24 and turned the ball over 10 times to 12 for Monte.
Montezuma star Brady Boulton led the Braves with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. Kohen Holland chipped in nine points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block. Dane Strong had eight points.
The victory gave North Mahaska sole possession of first place in the South Iowa Cedar League. They own a one game lead over Montezuma and Keota. The Warhawks have swept the Braves this season. Their lone league loss came to Keota a week ago, but then Keota lost at Sigourney. If North Mahaska wins its next three league games with HLV, Lynnville-Sully and Colfax-Mingo, they will win the title outright.
North Mahaska travels to HLV Tuesday.