DES MOINES — Sioux City Heelan used a fourth quarter rally to win their second consecutive Class 3A state title 50-45 over the Pella Little Dutch at Wells Fargo Arena Saturday night.

Pella entered the final eight minutes with a 42-39 lead and dreams of a state title dancing in their heads. But either the Crusader defense stepped up, or the Pella shooting irons went cold and Heelan escaped with the win and the big gold piece.

Credit would have to be given to the Heelan defense that held Pella to only a 3-point basket by Nathan Buchheit in the final quarter. Pella was able to get the shots that they wanted, but time and again the ball would bounce harmlessly off the rim.

Offensively the Crusaders use the inside presence of Iowa recruit Zach McCabe and a pair of sky walkers in Alex Malloy and Michael Malloy. Alex Malloy electrified the Heelan crowd during the contest with a pair of high-flying, two-hand slams.

Perhaps the biggest problem for Pella was a slow start. With perimeter shots not falling for Pella, Heelan streaked to a 22-9 lead after one quarter of play. The 6-foot-7 McCabe and the 6-5 Chris Karpuk were the big problems the Little Dutch faced.

Pella began to turn things around in the second period as it outscored the Crusaders 18-11 to cut the deficit to 33-27. Buchheit had six points in that run and Blaine Forsythe added four points, but it was the defense that began to fuel the hopes of another Pella comeback.

The hopes of a large green clad throng rose to a fever pitch as the Little Dutch ripped off a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of the second half. Forsythe slipped in the back door for two to get it started. Buchheit grabbed a missed shot and rammed it home and then Forsythe rained in a three for a 34-33 Pella lead. There was bedlam in the west side of the arena.

Heelan regrouped and put together a 6-1 run to regain the lead at 39-35. Diminutive freshman guard Shane Graves squirmed loose in the paint for two and then hit a pair of free throws. Alex Malloy soared above the rim for a two hand slam to finish the run.

Pella was not done as they ended the third period with a 7-0 run to take a 42-39 lead into the final frame. Josh Pringle started it with an inside bucket, Forsythe knocked down a shot from the free throw line and Matt Meyers converted an inside three point play to finish the run.

Michael Malloy opened the fourth quarter with a drive for two, but Buchheit answered with a three from the corner to put Pella up 45-41. But alas, that would be the final points the Little Dutch would score as the Crusaders fought back to win.

Pella coach Mark Core felt that his team got good shots, but they wouldn’t go down.

“We got good looks at the basket,” Core said. “We just couldn’t make the plays at the end. Heelan has a real nice team and I thought we competed with their size inside. Our guys responded great in the third quarter, but we just couldn’t make the shots in the fourth quarter.”

Forsythe led the Little Dutch with 14 points and Buchheit added 13. Alex Malloy led the Crusaders with 17 points and McCabe put down 16 points.

Pella finishes with a 21-6 record and they will bid farewell to four seniors. Those seniors are Forsythe, Buchheit, Matt Dowie and Meyers.  Pella owns a state title in cross country, a runner-up finish in Class 3A football and a runner-up finish in Class 3A basketball. Those credentials speak well for the entire program and the leadership of the seniors.

 

Heelan                   22     11     6     11          50

Pella                      9     18     15     3          45

PELLA (45) — Blaine Forsythe 14, Nathan Buchheit 13, Matt Meyers 5, Josh Pringle 4, Nick Dorman 3, Matt Dowie 2, Chris Bandstra 2, Kyle Newendorp 2.

3-goals — Forsythe, Buchheit. Rebounds — Meyers 5, Bandstra 4, Dowie 3, Forsythe 2, Buchheit 2, Pringle 2. Steals: Forsythe 4, Meyers 2, Bandstra 2. Assists — Buchheit 4, Bandstra 2.