The same Pella High girls’ basketball team that went all the way to the Class 4A state championship game did not look quite the same in game 26 as they did after game 4 of the season. The Lady Dutch had two convincing wins over Mount Pleasant and Carlisle to begin the year, but then fell 42 – 28 to Dallas Center – Grimes and lost by three to then-No. 1 Ballard, 52 – 49. A road game with Grinnell was looming next, and Pella fell behind early by 18 points to the Tigers, before a second-half surge put them on top and gave them a win. Coach Jerod Garland says it helped his team grow mentally knowing they could come back and win against a quality opponent like the Tigers. Pella’s girls went on to win their next 21 straight before dropping the title game to Mason City. They lose just two seniors from their varsity squad for the 2016-17 season.

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