Lenox state hopes thwarted in Region 6 finals

INDIANOLA — A massive third quarter by the Montezuma Bravettes (19-5) was instrumental in knocking out the Lenox Tigers (19-6) in the Region 6 girls basketball finals Wednesday in Indianola. The Bravettes won 49-37 to advance to the Class 1A state tournament for the second consecutive year.

Despite being down 10-8 after the first quarter, the Tigers had a 5-point lead in the second quarter after a 3-pointer by senior Izzy Curtis made the score 18-13.

The Bravettes finished the quarter outscoring Lenox 7-2 to enter halftime tied at 20.

“I thought we started out really well,” Lenox coach Michael Barbosa said. “We got some good stops and hit some key shots. We drove the ball extremely well. We had some momentum throughout the first half.”

The second half was fast and furious as the first three possessions resulted in scores.

The Bravettes scored two on the opening possession followed by Lenox senior Zoey Reed taking up a layup. Montezuma scored five points between their next two possessions to open a 27-22 lead. An ensuing 3-pointer made by the Bravettes put them up eight points.

“We knew Montezuma is a great shooting team and they were going to hit some shots and they did,” Barbosa said. “We didn’t get many of our shots to fall, and the third quarter hurt us.”

Tigers senior Sadie Cox was fouled four times while shooting in the third quarter, resulting in five free-throw points.

Cox was the scoring leader for Lenox with 14 while Reed had 11.

The Bravettes had three score double digits — Ellen Cook led with 14 while Shiressa Wetering had 13 and Sydnee Burgess put up 11.

Burgess proved difficult for the Tigers’ defense as she put up four blocks.

After each team averaged 10 points a quarter in the first half, Montezuma came out with a 23-point third-quarter, holding the Tigers’ offense to nine.

In the fourth quarter, the Bravettes scored only six, but the Tigers made up only three points to end with a 12-point deficit.

Despite falling short of what would have been the Tigers’ first trip to the state tournament since 1998, they still boasted a fantastic season.

“The girls played their hardest all throughout the season and I am so proud of them,” Barbosa said. “They did things this year that they have never done before in the history of Lenox basketball. They beat Nodaway Valley twice and beat three ranked teams.”

The team graduates four seniors — Cox, Reed, Curtis and Bentley Petersen.

In each of her four seasons, Cox has led the team in scoring. Her 1,567 career points is a Tigers’ school record. In January she beat the previous record of 1,427 points set by Lindsay (Brown) Wetzel set from 1994-98.

Cox also owns the single-game scoring record with 40 points and the career steals record with more than 300.

Right behind Cox each year has been Reed who has logged 1,275 career points.

Curtis finishes the season with 190 points, the third most while Petersen logged 56.

“We will miss our four seniors next year, but I am so proud of everything they did this year and I am so thankful for all of their hard work,” Barbosa said.

STATS:

MONTEZUMA: (49) — Totals (20 4-4 49) — Ellen Cook 6 0-0 14, Shiressa Wetering 5 3-3 13, Sydnee Burgess 5 1-1 11, Claire Erelius 3 0-0 8, Vivian Cook 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 5 (E. Cook 2, Erselius 2, V. Cook 1). FG shooting — 20-53 (37.7%). Rebounds — 32 (E. Cook 9, V. Cook 9, Burgess 7, Erselius 3, Wetering 2, Lauryn Larmore 2.). Assists — 14 (E. Cook 5, Burgess 3, Erselius 3, V. Cook 1, Wetering 1, Larmore 1). Steals — 5 (Burgess 4, Wetering 1. Turnovers — 10. Team fouls — 10. Fouled out — None.

LENOX (37) — Totals — (13 8-15 37) Sadie Cox 4 6-11 14, Zoey Reed 4 2-4 11, Izzy Curtis 3 0-0 8, Zoey Reed 2 0-0 4. 3-point goals — 3 (Curtis 2, Z. Reed 1). Team fouls — 10. Fouled out — None.