March 28, 2024

Eagle boys drop two over weekend

PELLA — Being out-rebounded 2-to-1 is not a good formula for winning in basketball. Sometimes teams can get away with a win, but they have to shoot better from the field than their opponents.

Neither happened over the weekend for Pella Christian’s boys. The Eagles fell to Grinnell at home Friday night, 68-49, in Little Hawkeye Conference play then lost 63-43 to host Des Moines Christian Saturday.

In both contests, the Eagles gave up a lot of points in the middle quarters.

Pella Christian had 13 rebounds to Grinnell’s 31 boards. The Tigers ripped the nets at a 52-percent clip, 26-of-50, from the field while the Eagles were 20-of-46 for 43 percent.

Grinnell held an 11-10 lead after on quarter then had a 16-12 run to the break for a 27-22 advantage. The Eagles were outscored 27-14 by the Tigers in the third period and 14-13 in the fourth.

Coltin Collins paced the Eagles with 14 points. Sebastian Baugh scored 10 points and was the leading rebounder with four. Levi Jungling passed out five assists. Jungling and Josh Posthuma each scored eight points.

Nate Haveman added four points. Jason Holwerda had three and Ryan Van Kooten scored two.

Grinnell got 17 points from Joe Schmidt, 13 points from Denton York and 12 from Clayton Scurr.

Saturday’s game at Des Moines Christian saw the Eagles take an early lead, 16-14, at the end of the first quarter. The Lions roared to a 26-23 halftime lead and pulled away with a 22-7 surge in the third quarter.

Again, rebounding was a problem. The Eagles had 14 rebounds and the Lions pulled down 24. Des Moines Christian shot 56.5 percent, 26-of-46, from the field and Pella Christian went 13-of-30 for 43 percent.

Jungling fired in 16 points for the Eagles. Collins chipped in with nine points followed by Posthuma and Van Kooten with five each. Jared Van Wyk scored three points. Holwerda, Haveman and Nathan Vande Voort had one point each.

Baugh dished out four assists. The Eagles were 11-of-20 at the free-throw line.

Des Moines Christian was led by Logan Vander Platts with 25 points. Keaton Van Soelen scored 12 and Noah Hart added 10.

Pella Christian is 6-8 overall. The Eagles are 2-5 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. They are idle until Friday when they host Dallas Center-Grimes.