The Pella boys basketball team will have an unofficial beginning to the season today in a scrimmage with a cause. Head Coach Derek Schulte says the Little Dutch travel to West Des Moines to take on Valley at 1 p.m. in an unofficial game to tune up for the new season.

“So it gives us an opportunity to play a real-life game against an excellent program, but it doesn’t count for us and so it’s sort of that scrimmage before the season,” he says.

The scrimmage is part of the Iowa Hall of Pride annual challenge. This statewide community service program was launched in 2010 to provide educational opportunities for students. The annual program is administered through the Iowa High School Athletic Association and provides support to the Iowa Hall of Pride and other charitable causes.

Opening tip is set for 1 p.m. today, and will be played at Coldiron Fieldhouse in West Des Moines. Pella officially opens the season with a girls-boys doubleheader at North Polk, which can be heard live on the KRLS2 stream Tuesday evening, beginning at 5:45 p.m.