Five Takeaways: Montezuma runs past Keota
WILLIAMSBURG – In a game that was a lot closer than the score entails, Montezuma defeated Keota 66-48 in the 1A-9 District Final in Williamsburgh on Thursday night. The Braves got out of the gates fast in the 1st quarter…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWILLIAMSBURG – In a game that was a lot closer than the score entails, Montezuma defeated Keota 66-48 in the 1A-9 District Final in Williamsburgh on Thursday night.
The Braves got out of the gates fast in the 1st quarter with a 6-0 lead, then the Eagles went on their own 9-0 run to make it 9-6, but Montezuma closed out the quarter strong and led 18-9.
Keota kept it close throughout the contest and cut the lead to four at one point in the second half. Montezuma then turned it up and pushed the lead to double-digits and took home the win.
Junior point guard Trey Shearer led the way for Montezuma with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Eddie Burgess finished the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Cole Watts also poured in 13 points for the Braves.
Keota’s JD Stout finished with 19 points and had a tough time against Montezuma’s stifling 2-3 zone. Stout, one of the best scorers in the state, couldn’t get into a groove and the Braves made him earn every one of those 19 points.
Here are five takeaways from Montezuma’s win over Keota.
Trey Shearer is so fun to watch
This was my first time watching Montezuma junior point guard Trey Shearer, and I left very impressed. Shearer was in total control of the game. He’s a great playmaker and is poised with the ball in his hands. He’s an intelligent player that doesn’t make mistakes often. Montezuma runs as he goes. Shearer didn’t shoot the ball well on Thursday, but he attacked the rim and was uber effective in transition. He was drawing double teams and he was still able to escape those traps.
Shearer is good, but he may not be the most important player for Montezuma to make a run
That’s a long takeaway, but it’s the truth. Sophomore big man Eddie Burgess had 13 points for the Braves, and could not be stopped downlow. Burgess is built like a truck and Keota didn’t have an answer for him. Burgess has good touch around the rim and is a smart player. He got into foul trouble due to technical and iffy block fouls that could’ve been a charge. When Burgess was off the court, Keota made a couple of runs and made things interesting. When Burgess was on the floor, things seemed a lot more steady. Burgess gives Montezuma a much-needed presence downlow, and he’ll need to be on the floor for Montezuma to be at its best.
Depth for Montezuma will be a factor
Montezuma’s starting five is one of the most talented in Class 1A. That bodes well for them, but if the Braves are forced to go to their bench, that could be a problem. Freshman Owen Cook was the only non-starter to score, and he hit a free throw. If I’m the opponents, I do my best to get Burgess in foul trouble.
Heck of a career for Stout
JD Stout will go down as one of the best to play at Keota.Keota’s JD Stout will go down as one of the best in program history. Stout put together a historic senior season where he averaged just under 30 points per game, and was one of the top five scorers in the state of Iowa. The lefty will play his college basketball either at William Penn or Briar Cliff. Stout isn’t the quickest guy on the floor, but he makes up for it with his ability to create space to get his shot off. He has a high arcing release and hit shot looks like it’s going to go in almost every attempt. He’ll have a great college career wherever he ends up.
Nodaway Valley vs. Montezuma will be an intriguing Substate battle
Like Keota, Nodaway Valley is a team that likes to take the 3. I expect this contest to be quick and up-tempo track meet with short possessions on offense.
I like Montezuma in this one. This group is a year older than the team that made the Final Four last year, and with Shearer as the man running the show, I have no plans to bet against them.