Big third quarter propels Bravettes to state berth

INDIANOLA — The Montezuma girls more than doubled their points in the third quarter of Wednesday’s basketball game to propel themselves to another state berth.

The Bravettes defeated Lenox 49-37 in a Class 1A Region 6 final in Indianola with the help of a 23-point third quarter. They’ve qualified for state six of the past eight seasons.

“We did a much better job defensively in the second half of controlling them,” Montezuma coach Janel Burgess said. “Offensively we just calmed down and enjoyed the opportunity to play in this environment. We really settled in.”

The Bravettes were out of sorts offensively for much of the first half, keeping the Tigers in the game.

“We were as nervous as bedbugs,” said Burgess.

The Bravettes led 10-8 after one quarter, and then the Tigers took the lead for most of the second.

The Tigers went on a 7-0 run off two baskets from Sadie Cox and a three-pointer from Zoey Reed.

The first basket for the Bravettes in the second came at the 4:22 mark from Sydnee Burgess, who had a team-high nine points at half.

The score was tied at 20 at halftime.

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The Bravettes’ leading scorer, Ellen Cook, hit her first basket right at the end of the half. That ended up being a key momentum swing that would carry into the third.

“Momentum-wise, that was huge for the whole team,” Burgess said of Ellen Cook’s three before half.

“We were having trouble shooting in the first half collectively. We just needed a couple to fall. And then going into the second half it was a new game,” Ellen Cook said.

A new game it was.

The Bravettes’ offense finally got rolling inside and out in the third. The team scored 23 and took a 15-point lead into the fourth.

“We really came together in the second half and was like, this is our time and moment.” Montezuma senior Shiressa Wetering said. “It was about us sticking together and doing what we do best, not worrying about anything else.”

Weteting scored inside to start the third, and the Bravettes went on to hit three threes in the quarter — one each from Vivian Cook, Ellen Cook and Claire Erselius.

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The Tigers scored only eight in the quarter and were no longer getting second-chance baskets off offensive rebounds.

The Bravettes coasted in the fourth quarter, having this game pretty much sealed up.

“Only allowing 37 points in a regional final, that’s pretty good defense,” Burgess said.

The Bravettes ended the game with a balanced trio in double figures: Ellen Cook had 14, Wetering 13 and Burgess 11.

Cox led the Tigers with 14. Reed had 11.

The journey toward another state berth was not always pretty for the Bravettes this season. A challenging schedule led to a 0-3 start.

“We had to really, really fight to get to this point,” Burgess said. “Before Christmas I was thinking I don’t know if we get to this point. But we had a tremendous game after Christmas, and we were finally able to get the wheels rolling.”

The Bravettes have won 19 of their last 21, and are 15-0 against 1A opponents.

“Those first couple games were against all ranked teams at higher classes, so it really didn’t bother us that much,” Ellen Cook said.

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Heading to a second consecutive state tournament to close out their careers feels pretty good to seniors Ellen Cook and Wetering.

To what do they attribute their continued success? A family-like culture within the team.

“We come together, and that’s what we stick with, and focusing just on how we can succeed and grow as a team,” Wetering said.

“This is a pretty big family we have with a smaller team, and I love each and every on them,” Ellen Cook said.

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