What appeared to be a quick end to a non-conference varsity game between two area teams turned into a competitive first half until the defending 3A champions Pella pulled away from PCM in Monroe Monday, in an 82-49 Dutch win heard live on the KRLS2 stream.

Fourth-ranked in 3A, Pella tried to avoid a hangover from an emotional win over #1 DCG Friday, and opened with an 11-0 run. A timeout by Fred Lorensen rallied his Mustangs, and PCM ran off eight quick points to make it a game and hung within one-to-two possessions for several game minutes.

The home team Mustangs took advantage of several Pella miscues and pulled the contest to within one, when an out-of-bounds call that went to Pella that should have likely gone to the Mustangs seemingly swung momentum quickly in the 2nd quarter, especially after a quick-trigger technical on Lorensen turned into a 7-point Dutch swing. Pella never looked back, and pulled away over the duration of the contest.

Pella was paced by 18 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists from Karl Miller, while Durant Van Dyke led PCM with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance of his own.

The Dutch improve to 8-2 overall and finish the rest of the week at home, starting with a conference doubleheader this evening vs. Grinnell. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. on 92.1 KRLS and the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel. PCM is off until they hit the road for Heart of Iowa Conference action Friday at Nevada.