Little Hawkeye Conference basketball is clearly being dominated by the Pella High boys. For the second straight game against a difficult opponent, the Little Dutch put the running clock on Grinnell and won going away, 89 – 52.

Coach Mark Core says he was extremely pleased with how many looks and points they got in the paint last night. Five different players finished in double digits, led by Ryan Van Wyk’s 16. Will Warner had another slam dunk and 15, Nick Finney added a dozen, and Donovan Holterhaus and Payson Vande Lune each scored 11. The defense held the Tigers’ Sam Allen to just two free throws in the first quarter, a whole 15 points below his average.

The Lady Dutch led by 13 at one point in the third quarter, and had to survive a late push from Grinnell to win 62 – 56. Kiara Bradley scored 16 of her 18 points in the first half; a 16 minutes where the Lady Dutch shot 60% from the field, and 77% in the first quarter. Katie Vander Molen put in 19. Pella’s boys are now 13 – 1, the girls improve to 13 – 2, and they each head across town to Pella Christian this Friday. A win by the boys would clinch at least a share of the Little Hawkeye Conference championship.