An undefeated start to the season came to an end for Keota Eagle boys’ basketball Friday night with a 72-63 loss at Montezuma.

Keota raced out to a 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter, but Montezuma got the deficit down to four points by halftime, and a 29-point third period by the Braves would end with them taking a 55-44 lead that they would never relinquish.

Junior Chase Haifley hit four three-pointers and scored a team-high 20 points for Keota, while Billie Kindred had a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Fellow senior Jace Chalupa added 17 points, but it was a 37-point outburst from Montezuma junior Brady Boulton that proved to be the difference, dropping the Eagles to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the South Iowa Cedar League.

The Keota girls’ team also lost to Montezuma 63-35, as the seventh-ranked team in Class 2A doubled their nine-point lead after one quarter into a 35-17 advantage by the half and would be up by 29 points going into the final period.

The loss means the Eagles fall to 2-7, including a 1-5 record in conference play. Both Keota teams next hit the hardwood tomorrow night at home against HLV.