Both Pella basketball teams bounced back in a big way from tough losses last Friday night with a doubleheader sweep of Des Moines Christian as heard live last night on 92.1 KRLS. The class 4A tenth-ranked girls won 63-39 while the boys followed with a 66-44 victory.

The games had a similar script, with a close first quarter, a big second quarter from the home team, and then Pella pulling away for the comfortable victory.

The Dutch girls led 8-7 after the first eight minutes, then outscored the class 3A sixth-ranked Lions 23-10 in the decisive second frame to open a 31-17 halftime lead. They turned it over just one time in the second and committed no fouls while maintaining their aggressive play. They also shot well, with Tristan Gordon scoring nine points in the period on three-for-three three-point shooting.

“Everyone, like my Dad and Grandpa, have been telling me to be confident and shoot it”, Gordon said. “So once I got the ball and made that first one, I was feeling it.”

Mia Warner led Pella with 12 points and 10 rebounds and both Gordon and Kennedy Van Vark scored 11. You can hear more from Gordon on tonight’s Radio Sports Page. The Dutch are now 10-3 on the season.

In the boys game, Pella led 18-16 at the end of the first quarter, but it was how they got there that had fans nervous. Just like in their last three losses, the Dutch built a lead, only to see it shrink as the Lions closed the quarter on a run. Derek Schulte’s squad took control with a 21-6 second quarter outburst.

“How are we going to respond in that moment when we get off to a great start and they close the gap at the end of the first quarter to two”, Schulte asked.  “All of a sudden we’re putting them at the free throw line again in the second quarter in the bonus. I thought the guys adjustment from that point on, defending without their hands, keeping them off the free throw line, making them score in the half court, that allowed us to get on a run. We shared the basketball and got multiple opportunities from a lot of different guys tonight.”

Fourteen Pella players scored, led by Roman Hugan with 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Cam Schulte with a 12 point 12 rebound double-double. The Dutch are now 7-5.

Up next for both Pella teams is a home doubleheader Friday night against Norwalk to start the second round of Little Hawkeye Conference action.