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It was a heartbreaking end to the season on Tuesday for the Keota boys’ basketball team when they lost in the final seconds to Montezuma 53-51 in a class 1A district title game at Williamsburg High School.

After getting blown out by 34 points in the regular season meeting last month, the Eagles made it evident early that this one would be a different story. Every quarter was decided by two points or less with the game tied at 26-all at the break and neither team could ever take control. Keota got a pair of buckets from Carson Sprouse and one from Sam Sieren down the stretch to tie it up each time, but a Trey Shearer drive and score with five seconds left was the final dagger in the Braves favor. Cole Watts led Montezuma with 20 points. Luke Hammen knocked down four triples to finish with a game-high 22 points for the Eagles. Carson Sprouse added 15 and Brady Duwa hauled in eight rebounds. Keota was plus-two in the turnover margin, but lost the rebounding battle 29-21. 

The Braves improve to 21-2 and advance to play Mount Ayr on Saturday for the right to go to state. The Eagles close the campaign 20-3, their second consecutive 20-win season. They say goodbye to a loaded senior class of nine that includes Sprouse, Hammen, Brady Duwa, Sam Sieren, Bryce Greiner, Wyatt Sieren, Patrick Clarahan, Riley Hahn, and Max Johnson.

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