Western Christian showed the Pella Christian girls’ basketball team why they are ranked the number one team over all five classes in the state of Iowa, winning in dominant fashion, 65 – 28 last night in the first round of the Class 2A state tournament. Neither team could find their offense for the first five minutes, and unfortunately for the Eagles, they were unable to find it the entire first half, trailing 26 – 6 at the break. Kevin Van Maanen said that he told his girls in the locker room at halftime that they have been fighting all year and they shouldn’t let up though faced with a big deficit. Early foul trouble from guards Tessa Howerzyl and Jora Vander Hart didn’t help matters, as both athletes fouled out in the second half. Paige Engbers led all scorers with 12 points, and Cori Uitermarkt had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds. The loss ends the Eagles’ season with a record of 19 – 6. Pella Christian says goodbye to four seniors, all starters: Jora Vander Hart, Paige Engbers, Madison Fopma, and Cori Uitermarkt.

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