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Aly James intercepts an Iowa Valley pass while Carly Steele (15)
and Brynna Steele (33) eye the action for the Bravettes.
Bravettes can't match Iowa Valley's energy
Jan. 10, 2012
MARENGO - Right from the start, Montezuma was trying to match the energy of Iowa Valley's girls.
Except for a few minutes in the second quarter, the Bravettes were not able to do it.
Iowa Valley led by 7 at halftime, held serve during the second half and took an important 43-32 victory over the Bravettes on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10.
Important, because it tied the Tigers with the Bravettes for third place in the South Iowa Cedar League race. Both teams are 9-4 in league play. If there was a silver lining for the Bravettes, it was that Iowa Valley didn't pass them in the league standings.
The Tigers did blow by them in the open court more than once in this game.
"They're a super-athletic team," said Montezuma coach Keith Sietstra. "We're not real deep and tonight we got into foul trouble."
With five different players scoring in the first half, the Tigers led 12-7 at the quarter break and had an 18-9 advantage when Montezuma locked in with its best play of the night.
The Bravettes played some tough half-court defense, handled the ball well enough in the open court, and closed the gap to 18-17.
Brynna Steele and Emily Long each scored 5 first half points, and so did Carly Steele.
But then, the Tigers ran a weave on offense and wound up breaking down Montezuma's defense.
"We gave up some silly points," said Sietstra. "Iowa Valley is not a great shooting team, but we didn't get our hands up . . .they made a run that probably was the difference in the game."
The Tigers outscored Montezuma 6-0 over the last 2 minutes of the half. Lilly Seye knocked down a couple of nice 10-foot shots along the baseline after the Tigers wore out the Bravettes with the weave.
The teams traded defenses, and some baskets, during the second half, but Montezuma never got closer than six points.
Seye wound up with 8 points and point guard Anna Herrmann also had 8. But Herrmann shot 13 free throws and missed 9. As the team, the Tigers were 10-for-24 from the line. With a little more accuracy, they might have blown open the game, because they were taking the ball to where it needed to go often enough against Montezuma's defense.
Two Bravettes fouled out. Montezuma made 22 turnovers, 7 more than the Tigers.
Emily Long scored 10 for the Bravettes and Brynna Steele had 9, to go with 8 rebounds, but she fouled out with 4 minutes left. The Bravettes struggled all night to get good ball movement and open looks against Iowa Valley's quick defense.
"We missed some opportunities in the second half," said Sietstra, recalling some open in-close shots that missed, along with a few turnovers in key spots.
Both teams were playing for the second time in two nights. Iowa Valley pressed; Montezuma didn't.
"We thought about trying a press, but our lack of depth and our foul problems tonight caused us not to," Sietstra said. "But it was worth consideration, even for just two or three possessions, just to give them a different look. So, we'll learn from this game."
The Bravettes are 10-5 overall. Iowa Valley hasn't played outside the league.
NO TV - Local Channel 3 didn't tape this game. Monday night's game against Keota will be shown at 1 and 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
UP NEXT - The Bravettes host English Valleys on Friday and Local Channel 3 plans to tape that one for airing on Saturday and Sunday.
Emily Long (45) takes the rock
to the rack against Iowa Valley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Montezuma 7 10 5 10 - 32
Iowa Valley 12 12 6 13 - 43
MONTEZUMA (32): Aly James 1, 0-3, 3, 2. Alexis Ferguson 1, 2-4, 5, 5. Carly Steele 2, 1-2, 4, 6. Courtney Petersen 0, 0-0, 0, 0. Mackenzie James 0, 0-0, 1, 0. Brynna Steele 3, 3-4, 5, 9. Emily Long 5, 1-2, 1, 10. TOTALS: 12, 7-15, 9, 32.
IOWA VALLEY (43): Anna Herrmann 2, 4-13, 0, 8. Ana Smith 0, 0-0, 2, 0. Miranda Rathjen 2, 1-1, 1, 5. Jackie Kriegel 2, 2-4, 2, 6. Natalie Demmel 3, 0-0, 4, 6. Katelin Healey 1, 2-4, 3, 5. Megan Kaestner 2, 1-2, 3, 5. Lily Seye 4, 0-0, 1, 8. TOTALS: 16, 10-24, 16, 43.
Three-point goals: Montezuma 1 (Ferguson 1). Iowa Valley 1 (Healey 1).
Fouled out: Montezuma 2 (Ferguson, :16.7, 4th qtr.; B. Steele, 4:04 4th qtr.). Iowa Valley - none.
Turnovers: Montezuma 22, Iowa Valley 15.
Bravette rebound leaders: B. Steele 8, Long 6, Ferguson 4.
Assists leaders: Ferguson 2, B. Steele 2.
Steals leaders: A. James 3, B. Steele 2.
Blocks: Long 3, B. Steele 2.
Line score legend: Field goals made, free throws made-attempted, personal fouls, total points.
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