The Central College men’s basketball team rebounded from their first home-court loss with a comeback 66-56 victory at Loras College, while the Dutch women’s squad struggled in a 75-47 loss to the Duhawks, with both games heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Central men trailed by 14 points with 5 minutes left in the first half Saturday and its grip on a share of first place in the American Rivers Conference was slipping away. But a 26-point, nine-rebound outburst from Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS), a career-high 14 rebounds from Drew Edwards (senior, Eden Prairie, Minn.), combined with a relentless Dutch defense to deliver a gritty comeback victory in a battle for the conference’s top spot. 

The final 15:45 was a Dutch defensive masterpiece as Loras, which came into the game averaging 80.6 points a game, was held to just eight points. In the midst of the Central comeback, head coach Joe Steinkamp made a big gamble. Johnson drew his fourth foul at the 14:45 mark. But with nearly 10 minutes remaining and the Dutch trailing 50-48, Steinkamp brought Johnson back in off the bench. Johnson hit 12 of 15 shots from the floor, including a pair of 3-pointers and center Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 13 points.

The Dutch women’s Abby Johnson (sophomore, Ankeny) had 12 points, but it was all Loras in the opening game of the twinbill as they led wire-to-wire. Johnson also had three assists and didn’t have a turnover. Kelsea Hurley (senior, Scottsdale, Ariz., Desert Mountain HS) and Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) each had nine points for the Dutch (6-15 overall, 3-9 American Rivers). Loras (17-4 overall, 10-2 conference) remained in contention for the conference title by outshooting Central 38.6% to 32.2%, posting a commanding 47-31 rebounding advantage, and limiting the Dutch to three 3-pointers. The Duhawks sprinted to a 16-6 first-quarter lead, were up 36-19 at intermission and in control throughout the second half.

The Central basketball teams close out their home-season schedule with a pair of games next week at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The Dutch take on Wartburg College Wednesday in a women’s-men’s doubleheader starting at 5:30 p.m.