The Red Rock Rivalry renews for the final games of the 2021 calendar as Knoxville travels north to take on a pair of ranked Pella teams.

The Panthers aim to play spoiler against the No. 14 Dutch girls and No. 7 boys. In the opener, Knoxville will try to start a winning streak in the all-time series that is led by Pella at 14-7, but included the Panthers snapping an eight-game streak for the green and white in February 2020. The two teams were scheduled to meet last year until COVID-19 cancelled the original doubleheader.

Knoxville Girls Coach Matt Ritchhart says Pella plays a faster style than what they have seen all season.

“Their coach is playing high tempo fast basketball, and tactically it’s going to be completely different than what it was tonight if we were to play, so we’ll have to be ready for that.”

The Panthers’ boys will try to pull off a massive upset in a series that has only been decided by less than 10 points three times in the past 20 matchups, which have all been won by Pella. Dutch Head Coach Derek Schulte knows they need to avoid a last-minute letdown before winter break begins.

Coverage of Pella vs. Knoxville basketball begins at approximately 5:30 p.m. on 92.1 KRLS and the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel.