Fast start not enough for PCM girls against state-ranked Montezuma

MONROE — PCM head girls’ basketball coach Sami Allison-Rodriguez admitted playing a non-conference opponent who won’t present much of a challenge is something the Mustangs could do.

That would certainly help them pile up wins. But Allison-Rodriguez knows the tough schedule will only help PCM later this season.

The Mustangs faced another state-ranked opponent on Thursday and not even a fast start was enough during a 48-39 home loss to Class 1A No. 15 Montezuma.

“We’ll be better for this game down the road,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “I’m proud of the girls for their efforts. Montezuma is well coached, veteran-led and used to winning. We’ll play that game every night because that’s fun basketball. I do feel like we got better tonight.”

The Bravettes won their sixth straight game and improved to 5-0 against PCM since Jan. 30, 2020.

The Mustangs lost the game despite holding Montezuma to eight points under its season scoring average. But they lost their third straight game mostly because they struggled to score at the offensive end.

“I think we’ll get there. I really do,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “We are just tight. We just need to hit a couple. We are shooting it well in practice. We’ll get there.”

PCM jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter. Addison Steenhoek hit a jumper to open the game and back-to-back 3-pointers from Steenhoek and Tori Lindsay extended the margin to eight before Montezuma closed to within 10-6 after eight minutes.

Neither team led by more than four in the second. Shiressa Wetering closed the Bravettes’ deficit to two twice in the frame before her final bucket of the period gave the visitors a 20-16 lead at halftime.

Wetering finished with 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bravettes in the win.

“She’s a beast. It was hard to stop her,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “We were locked in defensively until we let a few of their shooters get some good looks and make a few. They hit big shots when they needed to and we didn’t.”

Lindsay opened the third with a 3 and another trey by Steenhoek tied the game at 22-all. The Bravettes went back in front 29-23 before Steenhoek hit another shot from long range to close the margin to three.

The Mustang junior added two more buckets in the frame, but a triple by Claire Erselius made it 36-30 after three.

PCM stayed within four early in the fourth as Jorja Teeter made a short jumper and Lindsay produced a 3-point play.

A bucket and the harm by Teeter kept it at four with 1:47 to go, but Montezuma made 5-of-6 from the free-throw line after that to close out the victory.

“The last two games going into break we didn’t have much fire, and I can’t coach that,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “They know that. Tonight, we got the fire back. They were ready to go.

“We had a good break. I’m not worried about the loss. I feel like we got better as a team.”

Steenhoek and Lindsay combined for 28 of the team’s 39 points. Steenhoek led the way with 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Lindsay added 11 points and two assists.

Teeter chipped in five points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, Lila Milani finished with four points, two boards and two blocks, Rebecca De Vries pulled down seven rebounds and Elle Davis corralled three boards.

The Mustangs (8-4) shot 31.2 percent from the floor, made 5-of-19 from 3 and connected on 4-of-8 from the foul line. They committed 16 turnovers.

Ellen Cook and Vivian Cook complimented Wetering with 10 points apiece. The Bravettes (9-2) shot 34.7 percent from the floor, buried 5-of-22 from 3 and drained 9-of-13 from the foul line. The visitors committed 15 turnovers.

Notes: There was a moment of silence for Perry High School before the game. The Mustangs’ conference rival had a mass shooting on its campus on Thursday morning. … PCM’s offense is still seeking consistency beyond Steenhoek and Lindsay. “Jorja got some good looks, and I thought Rebecca played hard,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “They have a strong post player so that makes it tough. Lila also got knocked in her jaw but played through it.” … Montezuma came into the game with a point differential of 20 per game.

PCM 59, Nevada 48

NEVADA — A huge fourth quarter rallied the Mustangs past Nevada on Friday night.

PCM trailed by three after three quarters, but an 14-point surplus in the final frame pushed the visitors to a 59-48 victory during Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference play.

“We got a big conference road win,” Allison-Rodriguez said. “We got great team scoring and we were locked in on the defensive end.”

Nevada led 11-8 after one and both teams scored 15 points in the second and 18 in the third. The Mustangs won the fourth 18-4.

Lindsay led PCM with 18 points, three rebounds, three assists and five steals and Steenhoek tallied 17 points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals.

De Vries collected six points, 11 rebounds and two steals, Teeter and Milani both contributed nine points and two boards and Claire VanWyk pulled down three rebounds.

PCM (5-2 in the HOIAC) shot 51.2 percent from the floor, made 4-of-13 from 3 and connected on 13-of-21 from the foul line. The Mustangs turned the ball over 23 times and swiped 16 steals.

Nevada got 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and five steals from Dakota Hendricks. The Cubs (6-5, 3-3 in the HOIAC) were 8-of-20 from 3 but only 2-of-12 from the foul line and they committed 32 turnovers.