It’s a fourth straight trip to the regional finals for the Pella Lady Dutch basketball team after a 56-39 win over Knoxville, as heard live on both KNIA and KRLS.

Pella and Knoxville swapped the lead or tied ten times over the first two quarters and early minutes of the third before Pella would close the period on a 12-3 run to take an advantage they wouldn’t let go off. Foul trouble was the other story of the night for both teams combining for well over 40 fouls overall, but two pivotal offensive fouls called against Katie Keitges had her leave the game early in the fourth frame, which the Lady Dutch took advantage of, outscoring their rivals 17-8 in the final eight minutes.

Pella outrebounded Knoxville 42-33, and the Panthers shot only 16-31 from the charity stripe. Pella was led by Madison Parks, who had a career high 14 points and collected five rebounds for the girls in green, followed by 14 points and six boards for Chloe Van Vliet and a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double for Emily Holterhaus. Maggie Wilkins topped the Panthers with 16 points and seven boards, with Tara Uitermarkt collecting four off of the offensive glass on an eight-rebound night.

Knoxville finishes the year at 16-7 and says farewell to five seniors. Pella improves to 15-7 and travels to Little-Hawkeye Conference Rival Grinnell to face a No. 3 ranked Tigers team that swept the Lady Dutch in the regular season for the chance to go to state. Hear that game live at 7 p.m. on 92.1 KRLS.

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