It was a happy start to the new year for the Pella Lady Dutch and a disappointing finish to the opening contest for the Pella boys basketball teams in their calendar opening doubleheader with Newton.

The girls won 65-39 and the boys fell 65-49 to the Cardinals in a doubleheader heard live on KNIAKRLS.com.

After a close first quarter, the Lady Dutch pulled away in the opener by halftime, and broke the game open in the fourth after maintaining an eight-to-ten point lead throughout.

Head Coach Jerod Garland was impressed with the way his press not only forced 27 Newton turnovers, but how they wore down their opponents. Chloe Van Vliet led Pella with 17 points, followed by 11 from Caroline Bradley and a five-rebound, five-steal night for Grace Held.

The boys fell to the Cardinals despite a close first quarter that saw seven lead changes. Pella fell behind by 10 only to come back to within one early in the 4th quarter, only to watch Newton’s Garrett Sturtz nail crucial shots in the final period to put Pella away.

Pella’s Nick De Jong had a 15-point, 16-rebound night and Ryan Gustafson nailed four threes on his way to 21 points.

The Lady Dutch are 7-3 and 3-2 in conference play, while the boys fall to 6-3 and 3-2 in the Little Hawkeye. Both return to Pella High Tuesday to host Oskaloosa.