In a matchup between two local boys basketball teams, PCM knocked off Pleasantville in the second round of the playoffs, 64-51, to advance to the district finals.

 

The Mustangs got out to a resounding halftime lead that they never relinquished. After Pleasantville took an 8-6 lead midway through the first quarter, an alley-oop from Carson Vandelune to Matt Rosonke catapulted a 28-3 run that made the score 34-11 at the half. Vandelune led the way in scoring for the Mustangs, knocking in 26 points, two off from his career-high. Durant Van Dyke wasn’t far behind for PCM, as he knocked in 23 points. With the win, PCM improves to 14-9 on the season and are now 9-3 in their last 12 games. Coach Fred Lorensen says that he was impressed with the team’s first half performance.

 

“We had a great first half, really did a good job defensively and covered up their shooters pretty well. Then in the second half, we kind of lost our poise for a while against their pressure. We just had a good enough lead and made enough baskets down the stretch to hold them off. Pleasantville did a really nice job of getting back in the game.”

 

The Trojans got off to a rough start thanks to suffocating defense and cold shooting in the first half. Mason Scheve was held scoreless and missed all five of his shots in the first half. Pleasantville was able to outscore PCM 40-30 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to extend their season. Andrew Pender knocked in a career-high seven three-pointers, good for 21 points. Scheve had 16, all coming in the second half. Pleasantville finishes their season with a 12-10 record and a 9-6 record in West Central Conference play. Coach Tom Wilkins says that the first half was the biggest difference in the ball game.

 

“I thought we played a great second half. We came out, we had energy, we played defense and got after it. It just seemed like we were a little shell-shocked to start the game. You can’t get down to a good PCM team like we did and try to fight back. I told Coach Lorenson after the game, if we played the way in the second half we played in the first half we might have given them a game.”

 

PCM will play in the district final Tuesday against No. 7 in Class 2A Des Moines Christian at Carlisle. The game will be broadcast on the KRLS3 stream at kniakrls.com.