On a night when Pella Christian honored the 30th anniversary of the 1990 boys state basketball champions, the Eagles flashed shades of that undefeated team’s dominance with a doubleheader sweep of Oskaloosa.  The girls earned their first victory of the season, 51-36, while the boys rolled to a 79-49 blowout win.

Two nights after making eight three pointers in a loss to Newton, the PC girls scored all of their points on ones and twos last night, a point of emphasis from coach Brad Engbers.  He wanted the Eagles to be aggressive and attack, not settle for long shots, and he says that mindset paid off.

“We came out and knew that we could get the tempo going and play a little more intense defense.  We played full court defense that got Oskaloosa out of their rhythm and what they wanted to do. Chloe Morgan had a really nice game for us, 10-for-12 at the free throw line.  She attacked the basket well, and anytime she can get to the line, that’s good for us. She’s done a lot of hard work to improve her free throw shooting, and it showed tonight.”

Morgan scored a game high 18 points, and Allison Van Gorp added a 16-point 10-rebound double-double.  Pella Christian is now 1-10 on the season and 1-5 in Little Hawkeye Conference play.

Without star seven-footer Xavier Foster, Oskaloosa tried to slow down the tempo in the boys game and shorten the contest, but great defense and hot shooting got Pella Christian out to a 41-16 halftime lead and the running clock was in effect by the end of the third quarter.

Eagles coach Larry Hessing says that much of that was due to the return of Jack Vermeer, who was injured Monday and barely played in Tuesday’s loss to Newton.

“It’s so good to see him shoot well.  But beyond that, Tuesday night he was only able to play three minutes, and he wasn’t himself.  He’s the leader of this team. When he’s having fun, like he started having last night in practice, it was just a whole different Jack again and it picked the whole team up.  And then when he starts playing well and he gets excited and he looks at the bench like he did after he made about his fourth three, the whole team gets loose and is having a great time.  Thank you Jack, it was great to see you back.”

Vermeer scored 23 points, including five three-point baskets.  Dan Jungling hit three long balls and scored 13 points, Ryan Vande Haar scored 12 and Keean Cadwell added 10.  Pella Christian is 7-3 on the season and 3-3 in the LHC.

Up next for both Pella Christian squads is a trip to Des Moines Christian tomorrow.