The Keota Eagle boys basketball team is back on their home floor tonight in the second round of the class 1A district tournament when they welcome North Mahaska. The Eagles come into the game with an overall record of 19-2, champions of the east division of the South Iowa Cedar League and overall conference co-champions. They are ranked ninth in this week’s poll from the Iowa Associated Press. The Eagles beat Twin Cedars to open the playoffs Tuesday, behind 21 points from Sam Sieren, 12 from Carson Sprouse and 11 for Luke Hammen. On the season, the Eagles are led by Hammen and Sprouse both at 16 points per game. Hammen and Brady Duwa each pull down five boards per game. Sprouse averages three steals and Duwa three assists to lead the team.

North Mahaska is 16-4 on the season. The Warhawks beat Melcher-Dallas 83-42 to begin the playoffs with Braden Steel scoring 26 points, Addy Bollman with 12 points and Nash Smith with a 12 point 11 rebound double double. On the season the Warhawks are led by Steel and Smith at 14 points per game. Steel averages a team best eight rebounds per game while Smith leads North Mahaska with three assists and two steals per night. This week, Keota head coach Dan Stout talked about his team and getting ready for North Mahaska. “I think we are going to have to rebound well and make some shots. It will be in our gym this time. I think one of the differences the first time we played is that we have an experienced group with seniors and they were a lot of underclassmen without a lot of experience and that’s changed now with them playing a full season. We’ll need to shoot free throws well also, better than we have been. Those two things will be important in us trying to get a win.”

These two played a classic during the regular season that Keota won in New Sharon 51-50 with Carson Sprouse scoring 19 points and Brady Duwa 17. Braden Steel had 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Warhawks in the loss. Action starts tonight at 7p.m. at Keota High School.