Demons devour Dutch for huge boys basketball win

PELLA — There was a haunting in Pella on Tuesday night as the perennial Class 3A power Dutch boys basketball team was stunned by the visiting Washington Demons.

Washington exploded late to run away with an 82-69 nonconference victory, the Demons’ third win in a row to start the season.

The win marked the first Washington win over Pella since 2010. The Dutch had won the last five matchups including an 87-55 Pella win last season.

Pella led 12-3 early in the first quarter, but Washington stormed back to cut the lead to two, at 25-23, before the first quarter break.

The Demons led 35-32 at halftime and 50-49 after three quarters. They went on to drop 32 in the fourth quarter to leave the hometown Pella fans in shock.

Ethan Patterson drained seven 3-pointers and scored 29 points to lead the Demons. Kasen Bailey added 17. Lance Sobaski scored 15, and Lucas Kroll had 13.

Now, the Demons set their sites on a huge Southeast Conference game at Burlington on Friday night. Washington will enter 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play, and Burlington is 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the SEC with its only two losses coming against Class 4A schools.

Friday’s matchup will pit the two defending SEC champions against each other. Washington and Burlington both went 7-3 in league play last season.