The Knoxville Girls basketball Squad will embark on its regional journey tonight with a home game against Perry. The Panthers are 10-10 on the season and with a win can clinch no worse than a .500 season. However, the Panthers, like all class 4A teams, want to make a deep regional run and that starts with a 4-17 Perry squad, who has had more off-court adversity this season than anyone in the state. Panthers Coach Matt Ritchhart tells KNIA/KRLS Sports, the Bluejays want to extend their season just like Knoxville…, and his team needs to be ready to play tonight.

Ritchhart: “A lot of respect for them to handle adversity and the tragedy, and we both want to advance and extend our season and after that we have to find a way to get a scouting report for the defending state champion.”

Tonight’s winner gets a trip to number one ranked and defending class 4A State Champion Dallas Center-Grimes on Saturday. You can hear the action live on 95.3 KNIA beginning at 6:40.