The Newton girls and boys basketball teams looked nothing like the squads that Pella High claimed matching 30-plus point victories over on December 20th in Pella, as the Cardinals claimed a stunning 42-41 win over the Lady Dutch in the girls’ game, then lit up the Pella boys 66-59 in the nightcap.

The Pella High girls played solid basketball at both ends of the floor to open the game, but a surprisingly confident Newton squad kept pace, keeping themselves within one point in an 18-17 game at the half. The third quarter belonged to the Lady Dutch, and it seemed as though Pella had the win in its grasp, but Newton’s Kaylie Rhoads spurred the hard-charging Cardinals to outscore Pella 14-6 in the game’s final period and claim the win.

Rhoads had an impressive 20 points on the night, but Pella’s Regan Cooper was the game’s top performer; scoring 26 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. The loss drops the Pella High girls to 5-3 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, and 8-6 overall.

The boys’ game saw Newton display a hot touch at the offensive end from the very onset of the game, while Pella could never completely find its rhythm at either end of the floor. Newton held a 33-23 lead at intermission, and while the Little Dutch pulled to within 5 points by the end of the third period, they would not get much closer the rest of the way out. The Cardinals led by as many at 14 points late in the game, before a final push by Pella High pulled the game’s final margin to seven points.

Newton’s offense yielded four double-digit scorers, led by 21 points from Guard Brian Rose. The Little Dutch were led by Grant Barrick’s 16 points, with Jace Ver Steeg close behind with 15. It was just the second loss in the conference for the Pella High boys, who are now 6-2 in the league and 7-5 overall. Both Pella High basketball teams will travel to Oskaloosa on Friday night to face the Indians.