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The Tulip City basketball coaches find themselves heading into the state tournament on the opposite ends of the spectrum as it relates to experience.

Pella Christian Head Coach Larry Hessing is making his 12th trip to the state tournament, 4th most all time in Iowa High School Basketball History. Hessing says no matter how many times he’s been with teams to the state tournament, it never gets old, and he looks forward to competing among the best in Iowa once again.

“I can sort of remember the first time, and it was at Vet’s Auditorium, and it was like, ‘wow, this is what it looks like from this perspective,’ and of course Wells Fargo Arena was a different venue…it’s always a great place to be.”

This the first ever state appearance for Pella Head Coach Derek Schulte, who says he’s aware of the great tradition in the program, and he remains excited to see how the 2020 Dutch add to that legacy.

“To carry on that legacy and tradition–we’re fortunate and blessed, and it’s truly been a remarkable journey with this team, and to be right next to those teams is something that we’re thankful for, and we want to start carving our own niche as well,” he says.

The 2020 Iowa High School State Boys Basketball Tournament begins Monday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Hear the Eagles vs. Treynor Monday at 6:00 p.m. and the Dutch vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. on 92.1 KRLS. Hear more from Hessing and Schulte on today’s Knoxville Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner, beginning at 10:00 this morning.

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