There is nothing like starting your season with a rivalry match, and that is what the Washington and Mid-Prairie boy’s basketball teams are doing tonight.

Washington went 13-9 last year, and got the better of Mid-Prairie in both games to start the year.

They are starting with a new point guard in Daryn Sebelius, and will look to Justin Hoffman to help put up the big point totals.

Head coach Bryce Smeins said his team will need to come out with effort to get the win over Mid-Prairie.

“We need to play 100 percent and really get after it defensively and again get some loose balls and fight on the glass and be patient on offense and get some good shots,” Smeins said. “But number one our effort needs to be at the best it is and play shouldn’t be hard.”

On the Mid-Prairie side of things, they went 5-19.

The Golden Hawks lost Jaemin Powell to graduation, and will see if Reid Miller and Dayton Hall for some points after their performance at the Jamboree.

Head coach Chris Kern said he thinks the game is going to be about the physical play, and playing with Washington’s strength.

“It looked to be that [Washington] is a very physical team, if you look at [Washington] they’re all good looking athletes and I think it’s a team that you’re going to have to have a body on,” Kern said. “Not so much in height, but just well built kids who are very physical, so we’re going to have play a physical game with them.”

Mid-Prairie and Washington play tonight at Mid-Prairie. You can hear all of the action on AM and FM KCII and KCIIradio.com under radio plus immediately following the girls games. The one to count on for today’s local sports coverage is AM and FM KCII and KCIIradio.com.