NEW SHARON — Two longtime foes will battle for the third time this season when North Mahaska hosts Montezuma in a Class 1A District 5 semifinal. The winner will advance to the district final to be played Tuesday at Ottumwa against the winner of Holy Trinity (17-5) and Moravia (16-4).

The two South Iowa Cedar League foes have met twice with each winning on the others court. North Mahaska (17-6) won the contest in Monte (15-7) last month 66-58 while Monte took a Dec. 1 tilt 80-60.

The two teams have met more than 30 times with Montezuma owning the majority of wins 27-8, North Mahaska has won six of the last nine meetings. History will have little to do with the emotions of Thursday’s contest. Both teams would like to have a shot at a state tournament berth and this win would be two games away from that goal.

Both teams are led by a pair of prolific 3-point shooters. North Mahaska is led by junior Gabe Hora who shoots 38.3 percent from long range whole Monte’s Brady Boulton hits at 34.5 percent. Each team has three players who average in double figures scoring.

North Mahaska holds the rebounding edge 38-30 and both teams average 12 turnovers per contest. NM averages nearly 14 steals a game while Monte averages eight steals. Montezuma leads at the charity stripe with 66.7 percent average while North Mahaska shoots 58.7 percent.

The wild card keys to the game likely will be how many points can be scored off turnovers and who along with Boulton and Hora have the hot hands. North Mahaska has hit 28 3-pointers in the past two games coming off the hands of eight different players. 

Game time in New Sharon is 7 p.m. Thursday. KBOE will be caring the game live on 104.9 FM and kboeradio.com.