PCM basketball has been on an emotional ride throughout the playoffs. The boys hosted Van Buren at home last Monday, February 17. The Mustangs dominated in the first round of regionals, breezing past the Warriors, 82-36. Senior Kaleb DeVries hit two threes, ending the night with eight points. Alex Wendt led the team, pulling down 12 rebounds. Chase Wagaman had a total of seven points also swiping two steals. It was a career night for senior Gavin Van Gorp, ending with 38 points and joining the 1,000-point club.
Round two was hosted by the 21-1 Grand View Christian Thunder, the HOIAC conference champions. The Mustangs kept it close, outscoring the Thunder in every quarter besides the fourth. The team ended the first quarter tied 18-18. With a buzzer-beating three by Van Gorp, the boys led by one at the end of the first half. The game was a battle, with the Mustangs up by two at the end of the third. Despite best efforts, the Mustangs couldn’t overcome the conference champions during their explosive fourth quarter, being outscored 27-13 in the final eight minutes Gavin Van Gorp led the pack with 16 points, making 4/5 three-pointers. Cutler VandeLune also contributed heavily, adding in 14 points and hitting 3 three-pointers. Alex Wendt shot 60% from the field, finishing with 13 points. Junior Chase Wagaman swiped six steals and tallied up 11 points. Senior Kaleb DeVries led the team in assists, ending the night with six.
“We had really good teamwork, we played as a team,” Senior Jake Winters said when asked what he wanted the younger players to take away from this season. “One family.”
The boys finished their season 12-12 and 9-7 in conference play. Head Coach Tony Ford was awarded Rising Coach of the Year by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association. Coach Ford will be recognized Friday, March 14 during halftime of the 7:00 pm 1A Championship game.
As for the girls, they had a very successful season, making their way to the third round of regionals. The Mustangs were able to host the first two rounds of regional play. The girls started strong, defeating South Tama in round one 56-28. Round two was a thrilling game against the Albia Lady Dees, with the Mustangs winning 42-39.
For round three, the girls traveled to face the #3 Williamsburg Radiers, with many other Mustang fans also traveling to watch. The team got off to a slow start, trailing 23-12 at the end of the first. Unfortunately, the girls were unable to overcome the early deficit despite freshman Libby Winters’ impactful twenty points. The final score was 57-43, ending the girls season on an emotional note. The team finished second in their conference and 21-4 overall.
The girls’ successful season did not go unnoticed. Sophomore Tori Lindsay and freshman Libby Winters made 1st team all-district. Head Coach Samantha Allison-Rodriguez was named District Coach of the Year by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.
