The Pella Christian High School boys basketball team dominated its two postseason games last week to boldly punch a ticket to the state tournament. The Eagles kicked things into gear in the third quarter of their substate game against West Burlington on Saturday to beat the Falcons, 68-47, setting the Eagles up for the 13th trip to state in program history.
PC started running away with the game after the halftime break with a 26-12 third quarter that included six Eagle three-pointers. Senior Mitch Fopma had a standout performance with 24 points, including six threes. Senior Levi Jungling added 12 points and eight rebounds as well as six assists. Junior Caleb Roose, a former local, tallied nine points. Junior Graham Howerzyl, another former local, put up three points and had three assists. Senior Josh Fopma, of Sully, scored his first two points of the season.
The PC boys earned the right to play in the substate game after beating Albia 58-33 in the District 12 Championship on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Again, it was the third quarter that helped push the Eagles ahead as they outscored Albia 19-3.
PC enters the 2016 Class 2A State Basketball Tournament on an eight-game winning streak with a 16-9 record. The No. 8-seeded Eagles will play the No. 1-seeded Dike-New Hartford on Monday, Mar. 7, at 8:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. The winner plays at 2 p.m., Thursday, Mar. 10.
Several players on the team have local connections. Senior Joshua Fopma is the son of Loren and Shawna Fopma of Sully. Two former Sully residents and class of 2013 Sully Christian School graduates are also on the roster – Caleb Roose and Graham Howerzyl. Roose is the son of former Sully residents Scott and Diane Roose, and Howerzyl is the son of former Sully residents John and Lyn Howerzyl.
Proud grandparents from the area who will be cheering on their grandsons in post-season play are Earl and Alene Fopma of Sully, grandparents of Caleb Roose; Norman and Betty Schuring of Sully, grandparents of Scott Haveman; Dale and Ruth Van Maanen of Lynnville, grandparents of Kade Vander Molen; and Ken and Charlene Van Maanen of Sully, grandparents of Jeremy Van Beek.
The 16-9 Eagles will face #1-seeded and undefeated Dike New Hartford on Monday, Mar. 7, at 8:15 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
