The ADM boys basketball team successfully bucked the recent negative trend of bad defense, only to be undone by a subpar offensive performance in their 61-49 loss Tuesday night at Pella.

The Tigers held the 10-2 Dutch – the second-highest scoring team in Class 3A – to 12 points below their season average after allowing an average of 75 points per game over their previous three contests, all losses. In the end, ADM couldn’t sync up its offense and defense when it needed it most.

The Tigers trailed by just five at halftime, and to that point had held Pella’s leading scorer, Isaac Naaktgeboren, to just two points. But ADM could must just eight points in the third quarter to fall behind by nine entering the fourth quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore Matt Larson cut Pella’s lead to three with about 4:30 remaining in the game, but the Dutch took control from there, in what ended up being the highest-scoring quarter for both teams.

Naaktgeboren found his form in the second half to finish with 13 points. Payson Vande Lune matched Naaktgeobren, while Ryan VanWyk chipped in 12.

Larson scored a game-high 14 points for ADM. Senior Jake Sloss added 12, while Joe Sloss had all eight of his points in the second half.

The boys will try to pick up their first home win of the season this Friday against Winterset.