After a year away from the doubleheader format, the Pella and Knoxville basketball teams will renew their rivalry on the hardwood in the Tulip City this evening for girls and boys basketball action.

In a series that has titled heavily toward the green and white since 2001, this twin bill may represent one of the better chances at recent success for the Panthers in this long-standing clash. Knoxville’s boys (5-1 overall) in particular are chasing a long-elusive victory against the Dutch (3-3), who have otherwise won every single game played between the teams since 2006. Knoxville will need to keep the game within arm’s reach — the Pella boys have won by an average margin of victory of 27 points per game during this lengthy winning streak.

The vast majority of a much-improved 2023-24 Knoxville team was on the receiving end of a 88-35 romp in the Class 3A district playoffs last winter against the Dutch, and it’s a bunch motivated to flip the script behind their 2nd-best in Class 3A scoring offense (77 points per game). Pella Head Coach Derek Schulte acknowledges this group from across the lake is motivated to cool off Pella’s momentum from the previous week and to find a signature win, fueled by a wealth of talent.

“They are an excellent basketball team,” he says. “They’ve got really good guard play and a lot of guys who can shoot it, and they’ve gotten off to a really good start.”

Panthers Coach Troy Pearson says they need to hang tough in what promises to be an up and down game as both teams will want to play fast.

“We know we’re going up against a good Little Hawkeye team, and we know they’re athletic and watching them shoot they may be the only team other than us that shoots as many three pointers so it should be fun.”

The Panthers girls (4-3) are also seeking to reverse fortunes against the Dutch (6-2), although they have a few more wins in the rivalry, with 2020 the most recent. Pella has still won 11 of the last 12 in the series and are on the cusp of breaking into the Class 4A rankings before winter break.

Coverage of the Red Rock Rivalry doubleheader begins at 5:45 this with separate broadcasts on 92.1 KRLS and 95.3 KNIA; the Pella version will also be played on the Pella Dutch Live YouTube. Military veterans and service members will get free entry on behalf of Raceway Tire and Exhaust.