It’s not often any basketball team in Iowa has back-to-back games against defending state champions — and while the Pella boys just knocked off 3A champs Norwalk Friday, they will see the best team from last season in 4A this week.

The Ankeny boys and girls come to town for a rescheduled non-conference game Tuesday — a doubleheader that was exchanged when Fairfield switched to virtual learning and paused competition, and as the Hawks begin their season.

Pella Boys Head Coach Derek Schulte says he’s excited to compete against Ankeny in what he sees as a matchup that might not have ever happened — at least in the near future, against a roster filled with state-caliber talent.

“We’re facing an excellent program, and one where we have a lot of work to do in the film room between now and Tuesday because we don’t know as much about them, and hopefully they are in the same boat with us,” he says. “But what we do know is when you win state football, win state basketball — they’re going to show up with some athletes in this gym and it will be a big challenge, along with a big opportunity for us.”

Both Hawks teams are 1-0 after wins over Mason City Friday, while the 3-2 Lady Dutch and 4-0 Pella boys aim to build momentum into the winter break. Hear Tuesday’s games live on 92.1 KRLS, with pregame at 6 p.m., and the radio broadcast also featured on the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel.