It’s a huge night for basketball in Pella tonight as it’s round two of the Tulip City Showdown as Pella Christian plays at Pella tonight. The Pella Christian basketball teams will look to even the season series with cross-town rival Pella, as they face the Dutch at Pella High School tonight. Pella Christian Girls Head Coach Kevin Van Maanen says they’ll approach the match-up in very much the same way they did the first time, but he doesn’t expect things to be any easier.
Pella coach Jarod Garland says they know as usual that it’ll be an intense game tonight and they must be sound in all areas to win. The Pella Christian girls carry an 11-8 overall record into the contest after a sound defeat of Eddyville Blakesburg on Saturday and are 7-5 in Little Hawkeye Conference play. Pella comes in 11-2 overall and are 10-1 in LHC play.

Pella dominated the boys game from the opening tip in their first meeting right before Christmas at Pella Christian. The Eagle boys know they’re in for another tough test, and Head Coach Larry Hessing says the team is playing partly for pride after Pella ” embarassed ” them in the first meeting, but also to see where they stand as the season begins to wind down.
Pella coach Mark Core says he knows Pella Christian will be eager to prove themselves after the first meeting and he says with the addition of Cole Warner to their line up iy gives them some extra firepower they didn’t have the first time. He also says with a month of preparation he knows they’ll be better prepared for Pella tonight. The Pella Christian Boys are 13-3 overall and 9-2 in the Little Hawkeye Conference. Pella is 11-2 overall and 10-1 in LHC play. Doors to the Pella High gym will open at 5:15pm tonight and tickets must be purchased at either Pella or Pella Christian High Schools by the end of the school day today. No tickets will be sold at the door. You can hear both games live tonight on 92.1 FM KRLS and kniakrls.com with Eric Gotschall and Jamie Brockman starting with pre game coverage at 6pm. In related news… The Pella Rotary Club and Pella Dollars for Scholars will again be hosting a soup and chili supper prior to the Pella versus Pella Christian basketball games. The supper will be catered by Central College and features chicken noodle soup or chili along with several side items for a free will donation to benefit the Pella Rotary and Dollars for Scholars. The soup supper will run from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening in the cafeteria of the Pella High School.