It took 12 minutes of overtime to wrap up a sensational regular season of basketball for the Pella hoops teams.

Pella and their No. 3 boys team used three extra periods to knock No. 9 Dallas Center-Grimes off of their home floor in an 81-74 victory last night, as heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Little Dutch found themselves on the wrong side of the Mustang’s hot shooting in the first and second quarters that led to a 29-22 deficit at half. A red-hot start to the 3rd quarter closed the gap and a see-saw of scoring saw both teams trade runs until they hit 53-53 at the end of regulation.

DCG jumped to a four-point lead early in the first overtime until Donovan Holterhaus buried a three to close it to within one quickly. Donovan made another big three to give the Pella boys a lead in the 2nd overtime as well, just before fouling out. The Mustangs kept finding baskets and opportunities, as Pella finished 19-of-36 from the charity stripe. Nick Finney made his first points of the game on free throws in the 3rd extra frame that helped the boys in Green salt the victory.

Head Coach Mark Core credits his team’s ability to respond to adversity as to one of many reasons why they finished on top in a tough environment.

Pella was led by 22 points, five rebounds, and six blocked shots by Donovan Holterhaus, 21 points and 11 rebounds from Ryan Van Wyk, and 12 points and 13 rebounds from Nick De Jong. The Little Dutch finish the regular season as Little Hawkeye Conference champions with a 19-2 record.

While not as in dramatic fashion as their male counterparts, the No. 4 in Class 4A Lady Dutch used tough defense and timely free throw shooting to knock off the No. 9 Fillies 50-42. Pella went on an 18-2 run in the first half after trailing 11-5 early and held DCG to just three points in the 3rd quarter en route to the win. Girls coach Jerod Garland was impressed with the defensive intensity throughout.

Pella was led by 13 points from Katie Vander Molen and 12 from Chloe Van Vliet. The Lady Dutch finish 17-4 and in a tie with Grinnell for runners-up in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

The Lady Dutch begin the postseason road on Saturday the 18th against either Bondurant-Farrar or Oskaloosa in Pella, the boys are off until February 20th, when they host Saydel.

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