It’s been a long time since any Class 4A foe, let alone the Dutch, have solved the riddle that is the dominant, top-ranked DCG girls basketball team. It’s been since opening night of the previous winter season that the reigning champion Mustangs have lost to a same-class school (Ballard on 11-18-22), but Pella entered 2023-24 with the goal of defeating the juggernaut.

The Dutch came awfully close to knocking off DCG in their last matchup on February 10th, 2023 — the road team held a five point lead halfway through the 4th quarter before giving up a 12-0 run and the upset victory. Pella’s 14th ranked girls have won seven in a row, and take on a Mustangs squad that has had a bit of inconsistency and their share of close calls against 4A foes this winter, including a one-point win over Xavier on December 16th.

But the Dutch won’t take the defending champs lightly; Pella hasn’t won against the Mustangs since 2019, and the 10-1 top-ranked girls from Grimes have several key athletes that have caused fits for their green and white conference foes, including Seniors Kayla Reis (13.3 points per game) and Vanessa Bickford (9.6 points per game).

The matchup is intriguing as both teams are statistically close in several categories, including field goal percentage (37.4.% for Pella, 37.5% for DCG), in three pointers made (74 of 250 for Pella; 73 of 245 for DCG), and in points allowed (39.2 for Pella; 36.3 for DCG).

Coverage of Friday’s doubleheader begins at 6 p.m. on 92.1 KRLS.