Pella Christian’s girls clung to a late lead while the boys came back late, and both varsity basketball squads walked out of their gym last night with a win over Grinnell and the outright Little Hawkeye Conference championship. The Eagles’ girls jumped out to a 16-point lead in the third quarter before Grinnell started chipping away, even getting to within two at one point in the fourth quarter. The Tigers were down by three with only seconds left on the clock and had their best chance to tie all night with a final shot, which just missed, and the Eagles’ players and fans cheered wildly to celebrate a 49 – 46 win. Cori Uitermarkt had 17 points while Paige Engbers dumped in 13. Pella Christian finishes the regular season at 16 – 5. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ boys were down the majority of the game, until the final minute, and escaped with a 60 – 58 win. Austin Ver Meer, who left the game late in the first with a blood injury, returned late in the third down by 14, to a standing ovation, which sparked his team to a big run late in the game. Sebastian Baugh had 20 points, and Blake Riggen and Ver Meer each added 13. An outstanding record of 17 – 4 is where the Eagles’ boys find themselves now heading into the postseason. Both Pella Christian teams have first round byes; the girls will play the winner of Van Buren – Pekin on Tuesday, and the boys face-off against either Davis County or Eddyville-Blakesburg on Thursday, both games will be back on their home court.

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