Braves defeat unbeaten Eagles

MONTEZUMA — After the first quarter, it looked like the Keota boys’ basketball team surely would be rolling to their eighth win of the season and remain unbeaten.

A huge 29-point third quarter helped flipped the script as Montezuma handed the Eagles their first loss of the season by a score of 72-63.

Although it may be easy to credit the offensive production in the comeback, the Braves credit their defense.

“I think it was a lot of credit to our defense,” guard Brady Boulton said. “After giving up 21 in the first, we turned them over in our press and settled into our defense.”

Sophomore Dane Strong noted how they boxed out well defensively, which was key with the conference’s leading rebounder in Billie Kindred on the other side.

The Eagles jumped to a double-digit lead in the first off hot shooting from the floor.

After trailing 3-2, the Eagles closed the quarter on a 19-4 run, hitting three threes.

The Braves started to find their offensive flow in the second, but so did the Eagles’ Chase Haifley, who hit several difficult shots.

Haifley added seven more points in the quarter, and the Eagles led by sixteen early in the quarter.

The Braves closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to five by half.

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Boulton hit three threes in the quarter to total 11 at the half.

Then came the offensive onslaught in the third.

A Kohen Halland layup off a steal, followed by a Boulton three and steal gave the Braves the lead, and they never looked back.

Strong hit two threes in the quarter, as five different Braves scored in the period.

To cap off the quarter, Boulton hit a buzzer-beater from deep to give the Braves a thirteen point-lead, rebounding from a 16-point deficit in the first half.

“I think the biggest thing was probably our energy defensively,” Montezuma coach Derrick Dengler said on the turnaround. “We are a pretty aggressive team who likes to press and come out and guard you.

“We were coming off a two-week break, and it just took a little bit for the guys to get their feet underneath them.”

The Braves got many of their 11 steals after the first quarter.

The Eagles got as close as five in the fourth following two free throws from Jace Chalupa, but the Braves ultimately coasted to victory, scoring their last six points from the charity strike.

Boulton scored a game-high 37 points, continuing his hot streak.

Strong also scored in double figures, with 13, and Holland had nine. Haifley led the Eagles with 20, with Kindred right behind with 18.

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Production from other players will be crucial for the Braves moving forward.

“It’s tremendously important,” said Dengler. “Brady has proved that most games he is going to be able to get close to his scoring average, but we know we still need these other guys to step up.”

“It was Dane tonight, and we’ve had other games where its been a different player,” Dengler said.

The Braves hit 10 threes on the night, and when everyone can hit shots, it helps to space the floor.

Although it was a cross-divisional game in the South Iowa Cedar League, the win extends the Braves winning streak to seven as they look to build momentum in 2025.

“It's a big win coming out of break. To reach our goals we needed to get this one, and it helps build more momentum,” said Boulton.

A big week ensues for the Braves who play 3A Centerville, 2A PCM and a competitive Belle Plaine team.