It was a game of highs…and lows. Eventually, the Pella High girls’ basketball team saw their fantastic season come to a close at the hands of Carlisle last night in the Class 4A regional final, 65 – 58, in triple overtime. Pella first led 8 – 7, before the Wildcats scored 13 straight and kept the Dutch off the scoreboard for more than half of the second period. Mackenzie Gustafson scored nine points in the third quarter to spark a rally that brought the game to within one after being down by as much as a baker’s dozen late in the first half. The Lady Dutch had several opportunities to win, including a last second steal and lay-up that fell off the front of the rim as time expired in the first overtime. An emotional Coach Jerod Garland was proud of the resiliency of his girls all game long. Gustafson finished with a game-high 18 points, as the Lady Dutch end their season 19 – 3 overall. They lose five seniors from their varsity squad.

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