Road Runaway Clinches Central Men’s Basketball Title Share
Central College secured at least a share of its 18th conference men’s basketball championship Wednesday and did so with an exclamation mark, posting an 81-54 road runaway at Buena Vista University.
Central bolted out of the gate to take a 28-13 lead midway through the first half and kept the accelerator floored throughout. The Dutch were up 44-21 at halftime, hitting 53.1% (7-13) from 3-point range, while passing out 15 assists on 18 field goals. The Dutch had 24 assists for the game. Central’s lead ballooned to as wide as 39 points in the second half on a floor that has been the scene of almost nothing but misery in recent years. In Central’s previous 26 trips to Storm Lake, the Dutch were 2-24. But Wednesday’s rout was Central’s most lopsided in the teams’ series since 1984, and its biggest at Storm Lake since 1979.
Kaleb Brand (junior, Mount Vernon) finished with a game-high 16 points while forward Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS) had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Forward Kole Tupa (junior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) had 12 points and four assists and guard Kade Terrell (5th-year, Montrose, Colo.) had 10 points and eight rebounds. Guard Drew Edwards (senior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) also had five assists. Center Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) posted a modest 8 points and 3 rebounds in the win.
It’s the first title for head coach Joe Steinkamp, who is in his rookie season as men’s head coach, although he served as head women’s coach for five seasons and spent 10 years as men’s assistant. It’s Central’s first conference crown since 2014. In addition to determining whether Central shares the title or wins it outright, Saturday’s games will also help finalize seeding for the six-team conference tournament, which starts Tuesday.
Before they can celebrate, one regular-season game remains for a chance at an outright crown as the Dutch (17-6 overall, 12-3 American Rivers) travel to Indianola to meet Simpson College Saturday. Central is clinging to a one-game lead over Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Dubuque. Central’s game on Saturday can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA.
Johnson Double-Double Sparks Central Women’s Basketball Win
Guard Abby Johnson’s (sophomore, Ankeny) career-high 24 points lifted the Central College women’s basketball team to a 68-59 road win at Buena Vista University Wednesday.
Johnson hit nine of 16 shots from the floor and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Guard Hannah Dau (sophomore, Paullina, South O’Brien HS) also had a productive night, nailing nine of 10 free throws and scoring 16 points. Center Allison Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 9 points and 6 rebounds in the win.
Central led 34-28 at halftime and Buena Vista remained within striking distance most of the way, climbing within 46-45 with 9:04 left. But a 7-0 Dutch run gave some breathing room and they knocked down the free throws they needed down the stretch. Central hit 19 of 22 from the line. The Dutch outshot Buena Vista 37.9% to 33.9% but was outrebounded 36-34.
Saturday the Dutch travel to Indianola for the season finale at Simpson College. Central’s game on Saturday can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and 94.3 KNIA.