Photo Courtesy of Sigourney Girls Basketball Social Media

The Sigourney girls and boys basketball teams traveled to face undefeated in conference Montezuma Friday in both ends of a South Iowa Cedar League doubleheader. The Savage girls made sure the Bravettes did not leave unblemished, handing the No. 11 team in 1A their first SICL loss in a thrilling 41-40 victory. Sigourney sprinted to a 15-7 lead after one and still held a 24-16 lead at half. Montezuma made their move out of the break, cutting the Savage advantage to 32-30 going to the fourth. In the final period, Sigourney held on tight with a gutsy defensive stand in the final 15 seconds, for a one point win. Savage head coach Kaylee Weber joined Saturday’s KCII Radio Coaches Corner to talk about the keys to the upset. “We talked (before the fourth quarter) about it being a 0-0 ball game and they have to find something within themselves to keep going and finish. They were playing together and fought through all of the adversity. It was a dogfight, they knew that, and they came out on top! (The locker room after the game) was crazy! I loved it! We haven’t beaten Monty at Monty in nine years, so that’s a huge thing for us!”

Montezuma out shot Sigourney 33-30%, with the Savages hitting six threes. Montezuma won the glass 32-24. Sigourney took assists 7-4, steals 12-6 and turnovers 17-9. Brynn Clarahan had an 18 point, four assist day to lead the way. Bailey Gretter got to double figures with 11 points and Addy Fineran added 11 rebounds. Claire Erselius led Monty with 15 points. Sigourney is now 7-3 on the year, 5-3 in conference while Montezuma drops to 7-3 on the season with a 6-1 league mark.

The boys game saw a big Montezuma second half derail Sigourney 69-54. The Braves led 17-12 after, but a Sigourney run of 20-10 in the second put the Savages on top 32-27 at half. Montezuma erased the lead with 20 of their own in the third to go up 47-45 into the fourth and the Braves ended the game on a 22-9 run. Sigourney out shot the home team 40-39%. Montezuma won rebounding 34-33 and turnovers 16-7. Sigourney had 15 assists to 10 for the Braves. Brady Boulton led Montezuma with a game high 29 points. John Berg had a double double for the Savages with 10 points and 17 boards, Brayden Wood added 11 points. The loss dropped Sigourney to 6-3 on the year, 6-2 in league play while Montezuma climbs to 8-2 on the year and stays unbeaten at 7-0 in the SICL. The Savages are back in action Monday hosting Highland.