Near triple-double for Johnson in Central men’s basketball rout
INDIANOLA-A 29-point effort from center Joshua Van Gorp (senior, Pella) and a near triple-double from forward Grant Johnson (5th-year, Waukee, Van Meter HS) propelled the Central College men’s basketball team a drama-free 91-70 American Rivers victory at Simpson College Wednesday night.
Unlike the teams’ first meeting at Pella Nov. 21, when the Dutch had to hold off a late Simpson rally for an 80-76 escape, they were in command throughout, using a 12-0 run to build a 25-13 lead midway through the first half. Central (13-6 overall, 7-3 conference) was up 45-30 at intermission.
Central shot a steamy 61.3% from the field. Simpson (7-11 overall, 1-8 conference) was held to 45.0% shooting.
“It was a really good two-way performance for two halves,” coach Joe Steinkamp said. “We were really locked in defensively. Simpson is a very good offensive team and we just never really let anybody get going or get comfortable. Offensively we scored inside, we scored outside and in transition and really dominated the boards. Everyone who played, played well. I really feel we’re peaking at the right time.”
Van Gorp also had 10 rebounds to notch his ninth double-double of the season and 16th of his career. He hit 13 of 17 shots from the floor, raising his season field goal percentage to 65.4, which moved him up to seventh in the NCAA Division III. It was his 11th career game with 25 or more points, tied for fifth on the school charts, and he climbed past Matt Melvin (1986-90) for 12th place on the career scoring list with 1,143 points. He’s averaging 22.0 points for the season.
Johnson came within a rebound of pulling off the second triple-double in program history. He had 12 points, a career-high 12 assists and nine boards.
“He was great,” Steinkamp said. “The guys kind of gave him a hard time. He’s flirted with that triple-double the last couple of years and he was just one rebound away. But I know all he cares about is the win. It was a great all-around game for him.”
Forward Kole Tupa (senior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) had 18 points and guard Brad Curren (freshman, Harlan) added 10.
Central, which ranks second in Division III in rebound margin at 11.8, outrebounded Simpson 36-24.
A pivotal game awaits at Cedar Rapids Saturday where the Dutch take on first-place Coe College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the men’s game tipping at 2 p.m. instead of the traditional 4 p.m. start. Coe used an overtime, buzzer-beating tip-in for an 85-83 win at Pella Dec. 9. The Kohawks improved to 9-1 in the conference and 17-2 overall by knocking off Loras College at Dubuque 84-73 Wednesday.
“It was a heartbreaker for us against them the first time,” Steinkamp said. “We’ve been thinking about Coe for a long time and excited to get another chance.”
