Despite leading for most of the game, the Pella High girls basketball team needed some last minute heroics to beat Oskaloosa 40-38 in Saturday night’s regional semifinal as heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

The Dutch built a 19-11 halftime lead and maintained an eight point advantage at 30-22 entering the fourth quarter. The Indians then went on a 16-3 run, including three three-pointers from Haylee Parker, to take a five point lead. Trailing 38-35, Pella’s Emma Walkup nailed a game tying triple with just over a minute to go, and Kamryn Long was fouled as she was going for a steal on then ensuing inbounds play. She hit both free throws to give the Dutch a 40-38 lead, and they survived a Naomi Cole off-balance shot at the buzzer to preserve the victory.

Walkup led Pella with 11 points, and coach Blaine Forsythe couldn’t have been happier for the sophomore’s shining moment.

“She’s grown so much this season. She’s an extremely talented player and she’s going to create a lot of shots. Some of them are contested, but she’s also going to create some shots for herself that not a lot of girls can do. I think this is four of the last five games in double figures, so she continues to come up big for us.”

Kamryn Long added 10 points for the Dutch, who improve to 16-7 on the season.

They advance to play Norwalk on Tuesday night in the regional championship with a berth in the state tournament on the line. The Warriors belted Bondurant-Farrar 72-21 on Saturday to improve to 21-1 on the season.