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Holland’s double-double helps Montezuma pull away
Boulton finishes with game-high 26 points
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
NORTH ENGLISH — Montezuma’s Talen Holland played minimal minutes as a freshman last season, as his older brother Kohen was the leading post presence for the Braves.
This season the starting post role has been handed to Talen, whose productive third quarter helped Montezuma pull away in a 77-55 boys basketball win over English Valleys Friday.
“A lot of shoes to fill with my brother,” Talen Holland said. “He’s been trying to help me out some, but he is at college now.”
Talen has filled those shoes valiantly through his first five starts, averaging 14.2 points per game on 56.6% shooting while grabbing 36 rebounds.
In Friday’s third quarter, Talen Holland scored 11 points. Several of his baskets came off his 10 offensive rebounds in the game.
“What I’m thinking is, I just have to box out and conceal the ball,” Talen Holland said. “If I can go up, I will, or if I can’t, I try to look for a pass out.”
Talen was effective the entire second half against the English Valleys’ defense, as he finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
The lead went back and fourth in the first quarter.
English Valleys took a 9-8 lead after a Tyler Lortz three. Montezuma concluded the quarter on an 8-0 run.
The Bears stayed within reach in the second due to their three-point shooting. Four different players knocked down threes, as they totaled five in the quarter.
English Valleys’ leading scorer, Everett Bender, was limited in the first half, largely due to picking up a third foul early in the second.
Montezuma led 37-29 at half but took off the in the third, outscoring the Bears 21-9.
“The biggest thing for us was more patience offensively,” Montezuma coach Derrick Dengler said. “We were also in our positions better defensively, getting our hands on more balls and forcing turnovers.”
English Valleys’ last rally came at the start of the fourth — a 7-0 run with two baskets from Bender and a three from Colton Mikesell.
A Dane Strong three-pointer put the lead back up to 17 at 66-49.
It was Strong’s lone three of the game, but the Montezuma junior has become good at driving downhill to start the season.
“I was shooting good in the summer, but it got to the season and I think driving is going to be a lot better for me this year,” Strong said.
“I’ve realized that works out a lot better for me. I would say that I’m pretty athletic and its easy for me to get downhill. I just got to stay strong and stay on two feet.”
Brady Boulton led the Braves with 26 points, adding six assists and steals. Talen Holland, with 17, and Strong, with 14, were also in double figures.
English Valleys had a balanced scoring attack.
Lortz and Bender both finished in double figures, with 14 and 10, respectively. Ben Axmear and Colton Mikesell were one behind with nine each.
With the win, Montezuma moved to 4-1 on the season. Defense will continue to be a focal point moving forward.
“Our biggest focus has been building ourselves on the defensive side,“ Dengler said. ”That’s our goal moving forward, and taking pride in that.“
English Valleys, on pace to have its best season since 2021-22, dropped to 3-1.
