A return to the final eight of Class 3A boys basketball highlighted the winter for the Dutch teams, and gets to No. 8 on the countdown of top stories from 2025-26. Pella was able to come from behind against top post prospect Jaxon Clark and the Keokuk Chiefs in the substate final, earning a 20th All-Time trip to the state tournament. The Dutch won the game 60-47, which included a second half rally — outscoring the road team by a 34-15 margin. The following week at the state tournament, the Dutch fell in a thriller to Carroll in the Class 3A state quarterfinals by a 50-49 score.