The struggles continued for the Pella Christian basketball teams last night at Newton, as the Eagles were swept for a third straight doubleheader.  The Cardinals won the girls game 52-44 and the boys game 74-62 in a twinbill heard live on the KRLS2 stream at www.kniakrls.com.

In a see-saw girls game, P.C. jumped out to a seven point first quarter lead, saw Newton pull even at halftime, fell down by nine in the third quarter, then rallied back to a tie early in the fourth quarter.  Poor rebounding, bad free throw shooting, foul trouble and injuries finally caught up to the Eagles as Newton pulled away to win by eight.  Head Coach Brad Engbers wasn’t making any excuses after the game.

“We talked in the locker room afterwards, and I said ‘I hope you’re upset about this one’.  Some of those basic things – get rebounds, play defense with your feet and don’t reach because you end up with stupid fouls when you reach, and missing foul shots – they can all come back to bite you, no doubt about it.”

Allison Van Gorp led Pella Christian with a 17-point 10-rebound double double, but left the game with two minutes remaining with a sprained ankle that’s likely to keep her out of action for at least one game.  The Eagles fall to 8-10 on the season and 3-9 in the Little Hawkeye Conference.

Newton’s boys came out on fire in the nightcap, knocking down five first quarter three pointers in opening up an early double digit lead.  The Eagles got within five, but when the Cardinals stretched it back to double digits in the second quarter, P.C. never got within two possessions again as Newton kept them at arms length.

Eric Mulder poured in a game high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Pella Christian, who falls to 9-10 overall and 5-7 in the LHC.

Up next for both Pella Christian clubs is a trip to Van Meter this afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader.  Andrew Schneider and Wynne Veenstra will call the action on the KRLS2 stream, beginning with pregame at 1:45 and the opening tip at 2:00.