After suffering through a rebuilding season last year, the Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad is looking for some redemption. That starts tonight when the Panthers open up the new season with the Highway 14 Battle at PCM. Nearly everyone is back for Knoxville this year and a year older and wiser in basketball. Coach Troy Pearson tells KNIA/KRLS Sports this game will tell a lot of where his team is early in the season.

Pearson: “They are always athletic and well coached. I think we got beat by 25 in that first game out. We’re looking forward to it, it’s the first game out and we have it circled on the calendar.”

Person got a glimpse of his team and how far they have come in their Achieve Scrimmage last Tuesday against Winterset where they lost 83-70. That same Winterset squad beat Knoxville in the class 3A Substate opener by 46. Meanwhile for PCM, the Mustangs may be in the same position as Knoxville was last year, with a lot of new faces. Long time Coach Fred Lorensen knows what Knoxville will bring, and hopes his team is up to the challenge.

Lorensen: “We’re kind of in the same place as Knoxville as last year and it’s kind of flipped flopped this year, and we’re looking forward to the match up.”

Last year, PCM won 73-48 in Knoxville. The Mustangs have largely dominated the series over the years since 2001 holding a 13-3 advantage. This is also our season opening broadcast on 95.3 KNIA pregame is set for seven with the tip off at 7:15.