Rivalry Saturday 2024: Maquoketa Valley 38, Montezuma 35

CEDAR RAPIDS — A flurry of 3-pointers made up for Montezuma’s first drought.

Nothing could make up for the second.

Maquoketa Valley held the Class 1A third-ranked Bravettes without a field goal for a stretch of 7 minutes, 25 seconds, and rallied for a 38-35 Rivalry Saturday girls’ basketball victory Saturday morning at Johnson Hall.

“We practiced to get out on their shooters, and everybody did their job,” Grace Richter said.

The Wildcats (2-0) trailed 31-22 late in the third quarter, but got even at 32-32 on Audra Burbridge’s basket with 3:45 remaining. Bianka Ronnebaum’s two free throws put Maquoketa Valley in front for good at the 2:41 mark.

Richter led all scorers with 14 points. Ronnebaum added 10.

“We stepped up defensively,” Wildcats Coach Scot Moenck said. “We wanted to make them play the whole 80 feet instead of just letting them camp at the 3-point line.

The Bravettes (0-3) did hit seven 3-pointers, but were the victims of two long scoring droughts.

Maquoketa Valley held Montezuma without a point for the last 7:50 of the first half, turning a 17-14 deficit into a 22-17 halftime lead.

Montezuma scored the first 14 points of the second half, but cooled again.

Ellen Cook and Vivan Cook scored 11 points apiece for the Bravettes.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com