With a 76-46 victory over Grinnell last night, the Pella High boys basketball team has clinched at least a share of the Little Hawkeye Conference championship with one game remaining.  Earlier in the night, the Tiger girls used a three-point barrage to beat the Lady Dutch 78-60.  Both games were live on the KRLS2 stream at www.kniakrls.com.

Pella’s boys slowly pulled away from Grinnell, building a 15-8 lead after one quarter, stretching it to 37-27 at halftime, then holding the Tigers to just two points in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to as many as 31 late in the game.  Eleven different players scored in what coach Derek Schulte called an all-around team victory.

“I thought our guys were locked in defensively for most of the night and made things tough on Grinnell.  Offensively, I thought we were pretty steady.  We had seven guys with seven or more points and our balance was really good.  Winning a share of this league is a big deal because this league is as good as any in the state.  For our guys to respond (to the loss to DCG on Friday) and have an opportunity to do this tonight in convincing fashion was a fun way to do it.”

Parker Elder led three Pella players in double figures with 11 points and both Noah Allen and Josh Warner chipped in 10, with Warner grabbing a team high seven rebounds.  Pella is now 16-2 on the season and 12-1 in LHC play.

In the girls game, Pella hung tough with Grinnell, trailing just 30-26 at halftime, but the Tigers made seven three-pointers in the third quarter alone, and finished with 13 in the game, pulling away for their ninth straight win over the Lady Dutch.  Madison Naig, Anna Vander Waal and Faith Diers all scored in double figures for Pella, with 17, 15 and 13 points, respectively.  The green-and-white are now an even 10-10 on the season and 6-7 in conference play.

Up next for both Pella teams is the final league doubleheader tomorrow night at home against cross-town rival Pella Christian.