NEW SHARON – No. 7 North Mahaska knew they would be tested by long-time rival Montezuma when the two basketball teams took the court in New Sharon Friday. The contest did not disappoint. North Mahaska held off a rally by the Bravettes to secure a 48-42 win to improve to 2-0 on the season and in the South Iowa Cedar League.
Vivian Cook gave Montezuma its only lead of the game when she hit a 3-pointer for a 5-3 lead. By the first quarter break NM led 8-7. There was a cover on the basket for the host Warhawks and they shot just 23 percent from the field and 35 percent from the free throw line. Their defense stifled Montezuma holding them to a free throw and field goal in the second period to take a 21-10 lead at intermission.
NM seemingly had the game in hand in the third quarter leading 38-19 entering the final period. Montezuma slowing closed the gap as NM could not get a ball to trickle the nylon as the Bravettes closed to 44-42 with 41 seconds to play in the game. North Mahaska, who struggles at the free throw line, hit just enough to win while the defense kept Monte from scoring. Breckyn Schilling went 2-for-4 at the line in the final seconds but it was Kayla Readshaw who stepped to the line with 14 seconds left and dropped in a pair to secure the victory.
North Mahaska’s tenacious defense was the difference as they forced 25 Montezuma turnovers including 14 in the first half.
NM coach L.E. Moore was pleased with the effort despite the poor shooting.
“I am proud of heck of them,” said Moore. “We had to find another way to win tonight. Our composure will get better.
Moore was prepared for the run Montezuma made.
“We knew they would make a run and they did,” said Moore. “We just had to withstand it and we did. Kayla played tough tonight. She has sauce in her name and really hit those shots free throws when we needed them.”
Schilling and Regan Grewe each scored in double figures for the Warhawks. Schilling scored 19 points with seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. Grewe finished with 12 points and six steals. Readshaw had seven points, two steals and two assists. Ally Steil finished with six points, five steals, five assists and four rebounds. Sydney Andersen pulled down seven rebounds.
Boys Game
Montezuma broke away from a 15-14 lead in the second quarter to outscore North Mahaska 27-13 in the period en route to an 80-60 South Iowa Cedar League victory. The Braves were powered by Brady Boulton, who ripped the cords for 32 points.
Boulton hit the first points of the game at the 6 minute 37 second mark as both teams struggled to get a shot fall early. North Mahaska came back to take the lead 7-5 but shots by Boulton and Max Anderson took the lead at the close of the first period and never trailed again.
Montezuma dominated the boards pulling down 36 boards, 29 of them coming on the North Mahaska side of the court. They also went 14-for-28 at the free throw line while NM was 1-for-2. NM stayed close in the second two frames but could not overcome the deficit.
Asher DeBoef was the spark for North Mahaska scoring 14 second half points despite playing the second half in foul trouble. He finished the game with 19 points. Hot-shooting Gabe Hora also finished in double figures with 17 and Lucas Nunnikhoven had 11. Nolan Andersen finished with seven.
Boulton added eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals to his point total. Max Anderson finished with 18 and Garrett Watts had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
North Mahaska, 1-1 overall and 1-1 in the league, will host Grundy Center Monday.
