The Melcher-Dallas Girls basketball Squad will play by far its toughest opponent of the season. The Saints will take on Montezuma in the class 1A regional semifinals tonight. The Bravettes have been ranked all season and come in at 17-5 and finished in a top spot in the South Iowa Cedar West Division. Melcher-Dallas also has a 17-5 record and won the Bluegrass Conference regular season title. The Saints got to this point by beating Southeast Warren and Murray while Montezuma had a first round bye and defeated Moravia on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Melcher-Dlalas Senior Addi Wadle tells KNIA Sports the strength of Melcher-Dallas is its size with Gabby Overgaard and the play of sophomore Kesley Reed to overcome the guard heavy Bravettes.

Wadle: “I think our strength is we do have those rebounders and play to our strengths and play fast and get those outlets. I know they have a good team and they will be a tough challenge.”

Montezuma does have four players that average in double figures led by Ellen Cook, who averages 14.4 points per game. Melcher-Dallas actually had 150 more total rebounds than Montezuma and both teams defenses only gave up around 38 points per game, each. Tonight’s action from Montezuma is set to tip off at 7:00, and the winner advances to the regional final on Wednesday against either Mount Ayr or Lenox.