Johnson Hits 22 in Central Women’s Basketball Road Win

Guard Abby Johnson drilled a career-high six 3-pointers, as the Central College women’s basketball team posted its first American Rivers Conference win with an 88-70 runaway at Buena Vista University Wednesday.

Johnson scored 22 points in just 21 minutes of action as head coach Justin Weiland emptied the bench early. The Dutch (4-3 overall, 1-1 conference) rolled up a 46-33 halftime lead and coasted through the second half. Johnson hit eight of 13 field goals and was just two points off her career high of 24 points, which also came at Buena Vista last season. Center Allison Van Gorp recorded her 12th career double-double and her first of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Center CeCe Moore came off the bench to score 10 points, the best of her young career. Central also got an emotional lift with the return of guard Kassidi Steel, the team’s lone senior. She’s been sidelined by injury and made her first appearance of the season, making a limited appearance of just 13 minutes but still passed out a game-high five assists.

Central travels to Waverly Saturday to take on nationally ranked Wartburg College as part of a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the women’s game starting at 4 pm. Saturday’s games will be broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.

Van Gorp’s 22 Boards Lift Central to Men’s Basketball Road Win

Only a former Miami Dolphins defensive end has ever done what center Joshua Van Gorp did Wednesday while wearing a Central College men’s basketball uniform.

Van Gorp pulled down a career-high 22 rebounds, the second-most in school history, and scored 19 points as the Dutch held off Buena Vista University 83-76. Vern Den Herder, who turned 75 Tuesday, set Central’s single-game rebounding record with 29 in 1970 before embarking on a 13-year NFL career. Van Gorp’s previous high was 15 against Waldorf on November 10th, 2021. He recorded his fourth double-double of the season and 11th of his career. Central (6-1 overall, 2-0 conference) also got a career-high 20 points from forward Kole Tupa. After trailing 13-8 early in the game, the Dutch outscored Buena Vista 39-16 to grab a 47-29 advantage at halftime. In the first 12 minutes of the second half, Buena Vista came roaring back, outscoring the Dutch 33-14 to pull ahead 62-61. But as the Dutch have done so often, they came through in the clutch, pulling ahead down the stretch en route to their second victory in conference play.

Central travels to Waverly Saturday for a conference women’s-men’s doubleheader with Wartburg College. The men’s game tips off at 6 pm and both games will be broadcast live on 92.1 KRLS.