While the game started and ended with Jayden Huisman steals and dunks for Pella Christian, it was Oskaloosa that found the final points in a 50-49 boys loss for the Eagles, in the regular season finale heard live on 92.1 KRLS. The Eagles opened an eight point lead in the first half, only for the combination of Rian Yates and Xavier Foster to take control in the final 16 minutes, as the two scored 31 combined during that time. Yates hit a pair of free throws with 3 seconds remaining to take the lead, as P.C. couldn’t find the net on a last second jumper by Jake Pringle for the potential W.

Huisman finished with 12 points and 6 steals for the Eagles, followed by 12 from Josh Van Gorp. Pella Christian’s boys, just this week ranked in the AP poll in 2A at 10th, finish the regular season 12-8 overall and 5-8 in the conference.

The Eagles girls had a special moment to kick off their final regular season game, as Senior Morgan Fopma got the start and scored the first bucket for P.C. Fopma has missed the season with a knee injury suffered early during the volleyball campaign. Her best friend and 2019 Homecoming Queen Mary Kate Bandstra says it brought tears to her eyes to see Mo hit the floor one more time as an Eagle.

“I couldn’t help but just cry because I know how hard its been for her and just being by her side all the way through–it was just awesome to see her score and just play one more game with us,” Bandstra says.

Pella Christian dominated the girls game 55-34, and generated 14 steals in the contest. Emma Huisman scored 16, nabbed seven rebounds, and grabbed four steals; Allison Van Gorp tacked on a 15 point, 15 board double-double, and Chloe Morgan added 12 points and 4 steals.

The girls finish at 10-10 and 7-6 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. They start the postseason Saturday at Pleasantville, while the boys are off until their first round game in Eddyville against Albia or Williamsburg on Valentine’s Day. Both games can be heard on 92.1 KRLS.