STATE CENTER - Pella Christian has handed the West Marshall boys' basketball team its first loss of the season - matching the Trojans' entire slate from a year ago.
Austin VerMeer scored a game-high 25 points as the Golden Eagles defeated West Marshall 68-53 in their traditional season-opening game Monday night.
Coltin Collins added 10 points for Pella Christian.
Duncan Ferch had team-highs of 21 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for West Marshall, which will visit East Marshall on Friday night in their NICL West Division opener.
Christian Vis added 10 points and Elijah Streeter had five for the Trojans. Reggie Gradwell added five rebounds.
North Tama 68, Belle Plaine 37
BELLE PLAINE - Everybody who played scored for North Tama, which tipped off its season with an easy victory over Belle Plaine.
Jacob Wrage led the Redhawks with 13 points and five steals. Nolan Hefty added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Skyler Kvidera contributed nine points, Mitchell Boerm had seven, and Dalton Hulme and Paul Kaufman six apiece.
North Tama broke free for a 57-17 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Justin Jacobi led the host Plainsmen with 11 points.
The Redhawks are back in action tonight, hosting Colo-NESCO in an Iowa Star Conference clash.