Following the graduation of just over 60 percent of points scored last winter, the #10 Pella girls basketball team looked very different to start the new campaign in November.

However, a mix of returning players and newcomers have the Dutch in prime position to make a postseason push as they practice during the winter break, sitting with a 7-2 overall record and a chance to build their resume further after knocking off three ranked teams in a four-game span to end December.

What gives Head Coach Blaine Forsythe even more excitement is that there is still plenty of learning and growth to do, especially as a relatively young team continues to figure out what they are capable of.

“I’m super happy for the girls and just the work that they put in throughout the summer and in the season,” he says. “We hope that they see how their hard work is paying off, and we have a lot of big games coming up after the break, and then our conference is a dogfight each night, so we know we’re going to get a couple more ranked opponents and we’re looking forward to to seeing our growth after adding a couple of wrinkles over break.”

Kamryn Long has led the way for the Dutch with 10 points per game, followed by 8.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest for Katie Scheckel. The Dutch rank 5th in Class 4A in rebounds per game at 35.4 and 4th in free throws made per contest at 10.2.

Pella’s girls resume action in the new year on Friday, January 3rd at Knoxville, in a doubleheader with the boys on 92.1 KRLS.