Both the Pella girls and boys basketball teams placed four players in double figures en route to double digit wins over Newton last night in a doubleheader heard live on 92.1 KRLS.  The girls started the night with a 60-49 win, while the boys capped it off with a 69-47 victory.

Pella girl’s found themselves in a 29-27 hole with a few minutes left in the third quarter, then scored 19 of the next 23 points to take control.  Head coach Jerod Garland says that it was a mindset that sparked the Lady Dutch.

“We encouraged the girls to keep attacking the full court.  Newton is a really good rebounding team, either one or two in the state in rebounds, so that was an emphasis as well.  And we wanted to be able to flip from defense to offense. Whether it’s a made basket where we get it out and go, or a miss where we get the rebound, outlet and go.  Anna (Vander Waal) did a nice job looking up the floor, getting it up to our wings, and we were able to attack that way.”

Faith Diers led all scorers with 14 points, Madison Naig added 11, and Anna Vander Waal and Jasmine Namminga each scored 10.  More than half of Pella’s second half points came at the free throw line, where the Lady Dutch made 21-of-28 shots in the final 16 minutes.  The win improves Pella to 10-8 on the season and 7-4 in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

Pella’s boys held a slim 27-22 halftime lead, and found themselves up 10 holding for the final shot of the third quarter.  Karl Miller drilled a three-pointer before the buzzer, then added another one to start the fourth quarter and the Little Dutch never looked back.

John Oltman made six three-pointers on the night and led Pella with 18 points.  Warren Page and Logan Shetterly each scored 11, and Grant Nelson added 10. Pella is now 13-4 overall and 7-4 in the LHC.  Up next for both the Lady Dutch and Little Dutch is a trip to Oskaloosa on Friday night.