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Balanced Bravettes win comfortably over Keota
Wetering, Vivian Cook score 16 apiece
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MONTEZUMA — The Montezuma girls’ basketball team increased its winning streak to six games Friday night, winning comfortably over Keota 63-35.
After an 0-3 start, the Class 1A seventh-ranked Bravettes are now 6-3.
What has stood out so far for the Bravettes? Their balanced scoring.
Coming into the night, the Bravettes’ top three leading scorers were all within 13 points of each other.
Friday night was the same story, with three starters in double figures. Shiressa Wetering and Vivian Cook each scored 16, and Claire Erselius added 15.
Ellen Cook had seven points.
“Our ball movement has gotten a lot better these past three weeks, leading to more assists,” Montezuma coach Janel Burgess said. “We just have to continue to offensively get that flow and be very smooth.”
The Bravettes had 16 assists on their 24 baskets.
“Our shooting will continue to come, and our defense has to continue to be very solid,” said Burgess on the rest of the season.
The shooting was certainly there in the first quarter, as the Bravettes knocked in four threes to start the game.
Starters Vivian Cook and Claire Erselius connected on the first two. Lauryn Larmore hit two straight off the bench.
The Bravettes led 18-9 after one.
Keota kept the lead in single digits for part of the second after Grace Conger started the quarter with a three of her own.
Kimberly Clarahan added another to make it 24-17, but the Eagles would not score again in the quarter.
The Bravettes ended the quarter on an 11-0 run for a 35-17 halftime lead.
The Eagles started the third with five straight, but the lead would reach 29 after three quarters.
Another 11-0 run ended the quarter after the score was 43-25.
Vivian Cook and Erselius ended the quarter with threes.
Shiressa Wetering started the fourth with two baskets inside, and the Bravettes coasted the rest of the way to the 28-point victory.
Emily Conger led the Eagles with 10 points.
Up next for the Bravettes is another tough test against PCM Thursday. The Mustangs play two classes up (3A).
“Proud of our girls, and we got a great opportunity Thursday getting to host PCM. It’ll be a good one for us,” Burgess said.
