Another Block Party Fuels First-Place Central Men’s Basketball to Victory
Central College put five players in double figures while staging another defensive block party to subdue Coe College 85-71 and retain its hold on first place in the American Rivers men’s basketball race Saturday. The game was heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The Dutch (13-5 overall, 8-2 conference) trailed by as many as seven points in the first half and were clinging to a 32-31 lead at the half. But Kaleb Brand (junior, Mount Vernon) nailed three 3-point baskets en route to a career-high 18 points off the bench while his brother Nolan (junior, Mount Vernon) put up 10 with seven rebounds in fueling a 53-point Central second half.
The Dutch shot 64.5% from the field in the second half, including 57.1% from 3-point range. Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 16 points and seven boards while Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS) had yet another staff-stuffing line with 16 points, nine rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots. The Dutch rejected nine shots, marking the seventh time this year they have posted eight or more blocks. Drew Edwards (senior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) added 13 points and five assists, along with a block of his own.
Central outshot Coe 51.5% to 44.4% and held a 43-29 rebounding advantage, led by a guard, veteran Kade Terrell (5th-year, Montrose, Colo.), who corralled 11 while scoring eight points.
A long road remains as perennial contender Nebraska Wesleyan University visits Wednesday for a conference women’s-men’s doubleheader with the men’s game tipping off at 7:30 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The Prairie Wolves (12-8 overall, 7-4 conference) dropped a 75-61 home-court decision to the University of Dubuque Saturday and dropped into a tie for third place in the conference. Central won the teams’ first meeting at Nov. 30 at Lincoln, Nebraska 73-67.
15 Rebounds from Steel Not Enough in Central Women’s Basketball Loss
Central College got a relentless effort on the boards, but Coe College used its defense to send the Dutch to a 61-51 women’s basketball defeat Saturday, in a game heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
Central (5-14 overall, 2-8 American Rivers got a career-high 15 rebounds from Kassidi Steel (junior, New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) and outrebounded Coe 51-40. But the Kohawks (15-5 overall, 7-4 conference) denied open looks, limiting Central to 26.9% shooting. Abby Johnson (sophomore, Ankeny) had 16 points and nine boards, while Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) posted her third consecutive double-double and her fifth of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
While Central held a brief early lead and was up 13-11 after one quarter, Coe took a 29-22 halftime lead and was in command most of the way. However, down 57-40 with 2:21, Central used an aggressive full-court press and 3-point baskets from guards Kelsea Hurley (senior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS), Samantha Scott (sophomore, Davenport, North Scott HS) and Johnson to slice the advantage to 57-49 with 58 seconds left before Coe put the game away.
Central is home again Wednesday for a conference women’s-men’s doubleheader with Nebraska Wesleyan University. Game time is 5:30 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Nebraska Wesleyan is 6-13 overall and 2-9 in conference play after getting bounced 81-43 at home against the University of Dubuque Saturday. Central was edged by the Prairie Wolves 66-65 Nov. 30 at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Central Women Take Team Track and Field Title at Dubuque
For the second time this season, the Central College women’s team track and field squad took home the team crown at a meet by winning the Spartan Invitational hosted by the University of Dubuque Saturday.
Central topped the nine-team field with 132 points. Central previously won the Dutch Athletics Classic on January 14.
Caroline McMartin (junior, Pella) moved into the top-20 nationally in the mile run with her winning time of 5 minutes, 04.06 seconds. Teammate Megan Johnson (junior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was her closest competition at 5:13.38
The freshman spring trio of Willa Sickelka (Primghar, South O’Brien HS), Emily McMartin (Pella) and Mary Gustason (Marion, Linn-Mar HS) had another outstanding day. Sickelka and McMartin went 1-2 in both the 60-meter dash (8.02 seconds and 8.03 seconds) and 200-meter dash (26.91 seconds and 27.06 seconds). Gustason was third in the 60 (8.06 seconds) and fifth in the 200 (27.44 seconds).
Running the first indoor 800 of her career, Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Hopewell-Loudon HS) was the winner in 2:25.11. Roerdink, Caroline McMartin, Peyton Steffen (freshman, Marion) and Lauren Brown (junior, Underwood) were the 4×400-meter relay champions in 4:12.39.
Abby Marr (senior, Riceville) added a runner-up effort in the weight throw (54-5.25)
Central travels to the Wartburg Select meet next Friday and Saturday in Waverly.
Dutch Men Fourth at Dubuque Track Meet
Missing several of its key point-scoring athletes, the Central College men’s track and field team was fourth at the Spartan Invitational Saturday.
The University of Dubuque won its home invitational with 232 points. Central trailed with 49 points while missing most of its field event athletes.
On the track, Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) had Central’s only individual title by winning the 3,000-meter run, clocking in at 8 minutes, 43.19 seconds.
In other distance events, Cutler Owens (fifth year, Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) was third in the mile (4:31.66) and Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) was in fourth (4:35.03).
Theo Baldus (fifth year, St. Ansgar) was Central’s highest-scoring field event athlete in the weight throw, improving his season-best mark to 54 feet, 11.5 inches in a third-place finish. He is up to No. 40 in Division III in the event.
Central’s only other top-five individual performance was Brian Hart (sophomore, Norwalk) taking fifth in the 200-meter dash (23.51 seconds).
Central travels to the Wartburg Select meet next Friday and Saturday in Waverly.