Fifth-ranked Pella Christian and number nine Des Moines Christian square off this evening with a trip to the class 2A boys state basketball tournament on the line.

The Lions advanced to tonight’s substate matchup by knocking off PCM 58-47 on Tuesday night, while the Eagles put together one of their more impressive performances of the season in routing Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 76-35.

PC and DMC met just over a month ago, at Wells Fargo Arena, with the Lions winning the showcase matchup 57-46. Des Moines Christian shot nearly 50-percent from the field in that game, and Eagles coach J.D. Boer says if Pella Christian is going to turn the tables tonight, they need to win the game on the defensive end.

“Des Moines Christian is a good team that’s going to score some, every team will. But when you give them easy ones, that’s when you’re in trouble. It’s going to be critical for us to have the defensive mentality to take away the things that we’re focused on in terms of our game plan. And we have to rebound the ball well.”

Tipoff is tonight at 7:00 at Pleasantville High School. Trevor Castle and Wynne Veenstra will call the action on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame coverage at 6:30.