Looking to return to the State Tournament after a two-year hiatus, the Pella Christian boys basketball team expects to be tested on a nightly basis this winter.

The Eagles schedule features five teams that were in the final edition of the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s rankings last season. Among those teams, Pella Christian will face Pella twice in Little Hawkeye Conference play, while taking on Des Moines Christian, Grand View Christian, Knoxville, and Burlington Notre Dame in non-conference games. Knowing that they will be challenged this season, Eagles head coach Joe Steinkamp says their focus this year will be taking things one game at a time.

“For us, we just really want to take it one game at a time. You don’t want to look ahead. It’s crazy with how many times you have three games in one week and you just really have to regroup. So a lot of times you’re just really trying to worry about yourself, do your system, and make some game prep tweaks here and there as needed. But especially earlier on in the season, I think you really just have to focus on yourself, just kind of play yourself into shape, and play your way into some roles within the team. But more than anything we just want our guys to play really hard.”

The Pella Christian boys basketball team opens the season Monday night at PCM. Coverage can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame coverage at 7 pm.