PC players with local connections are EJ Fransman (#22, grandson of Wes Van Wyk), Tysen DeVries (#20, grandson of Ed and Judy Van Kooten), and Lincoln Vander Molen (#25, grandson of Vernon and Bonnie Vander Weerdt). Head coach JD Boer (back row, far right behind #20) is a grandson of Howard and Marilyn Vander Griend of Sully.
The Pella Christian Eagles are headed to Wells Fargo Arena to play in the boys Class 2A state basketball tournament after soaring to a 54-32 victory over Des Moines Christian on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Pleasantville High School. The fourth-seeded Eagles now have their sights on playing fifth-seeded Roland-Story at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 7.
The Pella Christian Eagles finished the regular season strong, kicked off the postseason even stronger, and continued their domination by defeating Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 76-35, on Tuesday, Feb. 22. The win gave them the title of Class 2A District champs.
PC jumped out to a huge 21-9 lead after the first quarter and continued to soar over the Rockets for the 41-point win. Tysen DeVries, grandson of Ed and Judy Van Kooten, had eight points, five assists, and two steals in the contest. EJ Fransman, grandson of Wes Van Wyk, grabbed three rebounds. Lincoln Vander Molen, grandson of Vernon and Bonnie Vander Weerdt, put up two points for the Eagles.
The win positioned the Eagles against Des Moines Christian in a substate showdown at Pleasantville High School on Saturday, Feb. 26. Just one month prior to Saturday’s substate game, DMC beat PC by 11 points. On Saturday, the roles were reversed.
Pella Christian’s boys basketball team triumphantly lifts the school’s new state qualifier banner after their substate win against Des Moines Christian on Saturday, Feb. 26. Tysen DeVries (#20) and EJ Fransman (#22, partially visible behind PC’s #4) are members of the team shown in the picture whose grandparents live in Sully. Lincoln Vander Molen is another PC player who has local connections, however he is not seen in the scene above.
Only two points separated the two teams after the first eight minutes of play. PC held the Lions to single digits in the second and third quarters to cruise to a 54-32 victory. DeVries played a big defensive game as one of the man-on-man defenders of DMC’s leading scorer who was held to just two points. Additionally, DeVries scored 11 points, grabbed three boards, and dished out three assists in the win.
The win and advancement to the final eight teams in Class 2A still playing marks the Eagles’ 16th trip to the state tournament since 1990. PC will take a 18-6 record to the state tournament. They will face Roland-Story (22-2) on Monday, Mar. 7, at 7:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
PC’s head coach, JD Boer, is a grandson of Howard and Marilyn Vander Griend of Sully.
