INDIANOLA—Combining double-figures scoring from four players with a gritty effort in the closing minutes, the Central College men's basketball team went on the road and snagged its elusive first American Rivers Conference win of the season 75-66 over Simpson College Wednesday.
           
The Dutch outscored Simpson 44-35 in the second half to improve to 4-12 overall and 1-7 in league play, snapping an eight-game losing streak. Central had lost four straight at Indianola.
           
"The guys have really been wanting this," coach Craig Douma said. "They've been working their tails off."
           
Center Joshua Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had another double-double, scoring a game-high 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds.
           
"Josh really rebounded the ball well," Douma said. "He went after it aggressively. We needed that tonight."
           
Forward Sam Beatty (junior, Mount Pleasant) added 16 points and five rebounds.
           
"Sam Beatty has really played well the last couple of games," Douma said. "He had a good game on both ends of the floor. He makes plays."
           
But Central also got a big lift off the bench from guards Jalen Wilmington (junior, Chicago, Ill., Crete Monee HS) and freshman transfer Kale Purcell (Holton, Kan.). Each had 10 points as the Dutch turned a 47-44 deficit with 12:56 to play into a 55-50 lead 3 minutes later.
           
The Dutch had some anxious moments, missing the front end of three straight one-and-one free throw tries in the final 3 minutes, but Douma was impressed with his club's composure.
           
"We broke their press and got some easy shots," he said. "We scored in transition and defensively, we made it hard for them to score."
           
Rebounding has been an ongoing concern but the Dutch came up big in that area as well, outboarding Simpson 42-31. Meanwhile Simpson (4-11 overall, 1-5 conference) was limited to 39.1% shooting. Central hit 53.7%
           
"We scored 75 points with only three 3-pointers," Douma said. "I'll take that.
           
"We moved the ball so much better and we made smart plays down the stretch."
           
Saturday's game with the University of Dubuque was postponed due to health and safety protocols so the Dutch don't return to action until Saturday, Jan. 29 at Coe College. It's a women's-men's doubleheader with the men's game starting at approximately 4 p.m. Coe stymied the Dutch at Pella Dec. 11, 83-65.
           
"We're going to work hard these next 10 days," Douma said. "But going into this long layoff with a win definitely has a better taste coming off a win."