The Washington Demon girls’ basketball team faces an immediate test in their season opener this evening.The Demons’ travel to Eddyville for a non-conference matchup with the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union ranked the Rockets no. 12  in Class 2A to start the season.

The two teams have been matched up in the season opener each of the last four seasons, and the Washington Demons have won the last three meetings. Last season, Washington came away with a 49-45 victory against Eddyville-Blakesburg, Freemont at Washington High School.

Washington competed in back to back scrimmages against Clear Creek Amana and WACO to end last week. The Demons went 1-1 in the exhibition matchups, beating the Warriors 49-37 and falling to the Clippers 17-15 in a two quarter scrimmage. Junior Amber Salow scored a team high 16 points in the two scrimmages. Senior Dylann Schluetter added 12 points in the scrimmages.

Eddyville-Blakesburg returns eight seniors from last year’s 17-6 team. However, the Rockets do lose 38% of their team’s scoring with the graduation of Tasha Alexander.  Alexander averaged 22.1 points per game last season for the Rockets.  Eddyville-Blakesburg, Freemont does return their five other major offensive contributors from last season including junior Karlie Taylor, who averaged 10.7 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game last season.

Tonight’s non-conference girls’ basketball matchup between the Washington Demons and the Eddyville-Blakesburg Rockets tips off at 7:45 p.m. at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Junior Senior High School.