A top ten clash awaits the boys basketball teams from Pella and Knoxville when the new year arrives. The Iowa High School Athletic Association released their first official rankings of the new season on Monday, and the Dutch come into the Class 3A standings at #5 after a 6-1 start, while the Panthers are #9 with a 5-0 beginning. Pella’s only loss has come to #6 in 4A Waukee. The Panthers snapped a 23-game winning streak in the rivalry with Pella last January. They will try to build their own new streak, while the Dutch are aiming to get 2026 started with a win. The two teams face off to open the 2026 portion of the calendar on Monday, January 5th. The doubleheader can be heard live on both 92.1 KRLS and 95.3 KNIA, as well as the Pella Dutch Live YouTube channel.