Pleasantville earned a split on the basketball court last night, as the girls lost a lopsided 48-17 game to Clarke of Osceola, while the Trojan boys defeated the visiting Indians 60-45. The loss dropped the Pleasantville girls to 4-12 overall; while Hunter Van Haalen’s 21 points helped the boys’ squad improve to 13-2 on the season.

Both teams are in for a challenge tonight, as nearby rival Martensdale-St. Mary’s comes to Pleasantville. The game will feature a bigger theme, though, as the two schools are teaming up for the third straight year for “Hoops for Hope” to help raise money for cancer research. Trojan girls’ head coach Trevor Miller says the three-year partnership with Martensdale-St. Mary’s for the event has been a good one, and should produce a good game tonight.

“We work really good together with one of our main rivals, so it’s always good to have them for the [Hoops for Hope] game. We’re expecting a good crowd and a lot of fun activities,” said Miller. “It should be a competitive game. They’re a fast, athletic team, and we played with them the first time; so I think it’ll be good for the crowd and should do a lot for cancer awareness.”

Among the highlights of the night are a free-will donation meal, contests for prizes, and live pie auction and silent auction. The meal begins at 5:00 p.m. this evening at Pleasantville High School. Tip-off between the Trojans and Blue Devils girls basketball teams is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. tonight, with the boys’ game to follow.