The hoops season heats up tonight with rivalry basketball on the free KCII3 stream when the Sigourney Savages visit the Keota Eagles for the Area Game of the Week doubleheader. The Keota girls enter the night at 1-2, following a 51-41 home win over Louisa-Muscatine Monday and losses to Lone Tree and Highland in the 4 Corners Shoot Out. This year, the Eagles score 51 per game and give up 57, shooting 30% from the floor, 32% from downtown and 34% at the line with 32 rebounds, 13 assists, 10 steals and 22 turnovers per game. Individual leaders include Cameron Haifley and Kimberly Clarahan each at 13 points per night. Kennedy Jackson has seven boards, Clarahan four assists and Haifley three steals per game. Sigourney is 0-1 after a 61-43 pre-Thanksgiving loss to Albia. The Savages were also an Achieve Challenge scrimmage winner at Hillcrest in the lead-up to the season 64-28. They forced 37 turnovers and grabbed 34 boards while being led individually by Brynn Clarahan’s 14 points. Sigourney is under the direction of first-year head coach Kaylee Weber. The Savages have won 27 of the last 34 in this series, including 20 straight, sweeping both meetings a year ago.

The Keota boys come into the game at 1-0 on the year, after opening the season with an 84-46 win over Louisa-Muscatine at home Monday. A season ago, the Eagles were 23-1, unbeaten South Iowa Cedar League East Division and overall champs. They averaged 78 points per game and gave up 45, shooting 45% from the floor, 27% from three and 62% at the line with 41 boards, 19 assists, 14 steals and nine turnovers per game. The Eagles lost nine players from that team to graduation including leading scorer Sawyer Stout, and assist and steals leader Cole Kindred, but do return Billie Kindred who averaged a double double last season with a team best 11 boards to go with 12 points per night. Sigourney was 13-9 last year, 10-7, third in the South Iowa Cedar League East Division. The Savages averaged 57 points and gave up 48 per night, shooting 36% from the floor, 28% from three and 59% at the line with 33 boards, 14 assists, 11 steals and 11 turnovers per game. The Savages bring back every member of last year’s team including scoring leaders Isaac Bruns and Solon Yates at 14 and 13 points each. Leading rebounder John Berg at eight per game, and assist and steals leader Ike Molyneux at four and three per night. Keota has won 30 of the last 38 in this series including the last three and a sweep of both meeting last year.

You can hear all of the action live tonight free on the KCII3 Stream, exclusively at KCIIradio.com, beginning with the Area Game of the Week Pregame Show at 5:30, tip of the girls game at 6p.m. With the boys to follow from Keota High School.