News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Forward Scott Huisman’s bucket with two seconds left forced overtime and the Central College men’s basketball team went on to post a crucial 74-70 Iowa Conference victory over Coe College Saturday, earning a berth in the league tournament.

The win gives the Dutch the seventh seed with a 4-12 league mark. They’ll travel to Storm Lake Tuesday at 8 p.m. to face second-seeded Buena Vista (14-2). The Beavers swept Central in the regular season, 75-72 at Pella Jan. 22 and 81-65 at Storm Lake Feb. 5.

Coe, 13-12 overall, slips to 9-7 in the league and plays host to fifth-seeded Dubuque Tuesday.

Central trailed Saturday, 48-39, with 9 minutes, 13 seconds left, after seeing a 29-25 halftime advantage disappear. But the Dutch staged a 10-0 run, highlighted by center Clint Driftmier’s running dunk and 3-point basket. Then trailing 55-52 with 45 seconds remaining, forward Simeon Lang hit a tying 3-pointer. But Coe’s Cory Deshaw hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds left for a 57-55 lead.

Coe had two fouls to give as each team had been whistled for just four fouls in the first 19 minutes of the second half, but was unable to stop guard Zak Clark from penetrating the lane. He dished the ball to Huisman who was alone underneath for the game-tying lay-in.

The overtime was all Central as the Dutch shot 71.4 percent from the floor in the extra period, with guard Brett De Hoogh and Clark knocking down 3-pointers.

“It was a game where people stepped up and made plays,” coach Mike Boschee said. “And it was more than one player who stepped up. Zak Clark and Simeon Lang each hit some big threes. It was nice that when we needed a basket we could get it.

“Defensively, I thought we played a lot better, especially down the stretch. Our intensity was there for virtually the entire game.”

Driftmier finished with a game-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting. Huisman had 16 points and six rebounds while Clark had 11 points and De Hoogh had eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Coe’s Kyle Kuenstling had 15 points and six rebounds.

Central outrebounded the Kohawks, 38-31, and outshot them, 47.3 percent to 40.7 percent. The Dutch knocked down 10 of 20 3-point shots.

The win moves Central to 7-18 overall, letting the squad exceed last year’s win total. It also provides a lift for Boschee’s rebuilding program in his second year. For part of the second-half stretch run, Central had a lineup of four freshmen and a sophomore on the floor. Yet Boschee said he was happiest for his team’s three seniors, Huisman, Doug Hooker and Brandon Vos, as the Dutch extended their season.

“I think everyone wanted to get a victory for our seniors,” Boschee said. “We had a lot of people making plays to keep the season going. It’s a big boost for our program to win a game in a playoff atmosphere.”