The Pella Christian girls basketball team is preparing to face yet another difficult schedule in 2025-2026.

The Eagles, who begin the season on Friday, will square off with six teams that qualified for the State Tournament last winter, while also facing a tough Little Hawkeye Conference slate. Among the teams on Pella Christian’s schedule that reached State include Montezuma, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Norwalk, Des Moines Christian, West Marshall, and Dallas Center-Grimes. Eagles head coach Jon Mumm knows his squad will be challenged throughout the season, but says they are looking to use their schedule as a way to prepare for the regional tournament at the end of the year.

“We’re looking at it as we’re going to be battle tested. You know, I’ve used that word a lot, and we’re going to use it all season. Girls, we’re going to be battle tested come our regional playoff time, when we’re going up against other 3A schools. We’re playing a lot of 4A and 5A, so we’re going to be battle tested and we’re going to be ready. And even if our overall record is not that great, we’re going to be a good team come the end, and we’re going to be ready to compete to make a run to go to State.”

The Pella Christian girls basketball team opens their season on Friday at PCM, and the game can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS.