Box Score PELLA—Yet again, the Central College men's basketball team found itself battling to the buzzer, but when it sounded, an improbable tip of a Coe College lob play was delicately bounding off the rim and through the net for an 85-83 overtime Kohawk victory.
           
It was Central's first conference loss in what's shaping up to be another intense American Rivers race. The Dutch (7-2 overall, 3-1 conference) suffered through some uncharacteristic struggles down the stretch as a 71-63 lead with just 1:32 remaining melted away. Coe (9-1 overall, 4-0 conference) got the tying bucket with 8 seconds left and Central failed to get a final shot off.
           
Trailing in overtime 83-81, center Joshua Van Gorp (senior, Pella), calmly buried a pair of free throws to tie it with 26 seconds remaining. It appeared Coe would be equally frustrated on its final possession, but a held ball with just 1 second left went to the Kohawks on the alternate possession, setting up the winning lob to forward TJ Schnurr.
           
"I felt like parts of the game, we played as well as we've played all year," coach Joe Steinkamp said. "And then, late game, we just had a couple missed free throws and a couple of turnovers and they made some tough shots all kind of in a row. Then the overtime was back and forth and it came down to who had the ball last. Give them a lot a credit. They made a crazy play."
           
That spoiled another monster night for Central's frontline duo of Van Gorp and Grant Johnson (5th-year, Waukee, Van Meter HS), each recording near double-doubles. Van Gorp put up 27 points and nine rebounds while Johnson had 10 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Forward Kole Tupa (senior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS), likewise, had 15 points and nine boards while point guard Drew Edwards (5th-year, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had 14 points, six rebounds and five assists.
           
"They guarded (Van Gorp) man-to-man more than most teams but he did a great job throughout the game and the guys did a really good job of finding him," Steinkamp said. "It was another great game from Grant, with a stat-stuffing line again and almost a triple double. I thought Drew Edwards was excellent. He made a lot of late shot-clock plays and just played a really good all-around game."
           
Central outshot Coe from the field, 54.5% to 44.4% and held a 44-28 rebounding advantage. But the Dutch also made some costly miscues, with 20 turnovers.
           
"I think that was the difference," Steinkamp said.
           
Central was also limited to three 3-point baskets while Coe hit nine-of-22 from long range.
           
"We've just got to keep learning from this," Steinkamp said. "We're going to be in a lot of these type of games."
           
Central takes a break for final fall semester exams next week, then travels to the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) next Saturday for a 3 p.m game. The teams' only previous meeting was a 76-61 Dutch win at St. Paul in 2016. The Eagles are 7-2 after getting knocked off 99-71 at Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) Saturday evening.
           
"We have a good opponent coming up next Saturday," Steinkamp said. "Northwestern's having a nice year and is a good offensive team. I know that our guys will keep getting better and keep fighting. Still a lot of good things are going to happen to us this year."