The Tulip City basketball teams renew their rivalry for the first time in 2025 tonight, as Pella makes the short trip to Eagle Lane to square off with Pella Christian in a Little Hawkeye Conference doubleheader.

The Class 4A #10 Dutch girls squad enters tonight’s contest on a seven game winning streak, after earning a 51-44 overtime victory over Oskaloosa on Tuesday to improve to 9-2 overall. The 4-6 Eagles, looking to end Pella’s streak, are looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s 43-37 loss to Newton. Pella Christian head coach Brendan Foughty says tonight’s game will provide a good challenge for his squad, but adds that he’s looking forward to it.

“What makes it tough is they bring so many girls off the bench that can do the same thing that the girl replaced. So, it’s a fun challenge. Our kids take this game extremely seriously, as do I, and it’s a big deal. There’s a lot of people in the gym, so there’s always a little extra juice for our kids. I’m extremely excited for it, and I’m excited to see how our kids rise to the challenge.”

In the nightcap, the 4-4 Eagle boys are also looking to rebound from a 68-51 loss at Newton on Tuesday. The 5-4 Pella boys are looking to build momentum off of Tuesday’s 74-32 win at Oskaloosa, which snapped a two-game losing skid to open the new year. Dutch head coach Derek Schulte says that he expects a highly competitive game tonight in a great environment.

“Pella Christian has great athletes, they play extremely hard, and are well-coached. It’s going to be a battle on Friday night. I know it’s a new group, but they’ve got depth and talent and you can see their growth as the season’s went on. It’s always a fun Friday night when Pella and Pella Christian play. It’s a special atmosphere that our guys get to be a part of. We’re excited for Friday night and can’t wait to get there.”

Coverage of the Tulip City Showdown on Eagle Lane tonight can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS and viewed live on the Pella Christian YouTube Channel, beginning with pregame coverage at 5:45 pm.