Two wins separates the Washington boys’ basketball team from a state bid and one of those wins could be checked off the list tonight when the Demons host Grinnell for a class 3A substate semifinal.

Washington comes into tonight with a 15-6 overall mark and advanced to this round after a 49-37 grind it out victory over Oskaloosa on Monday. In just his third game back from injury, Kasen Bailey dropped 20 points and averages 14 on the season. Ethan Patterson paces the team with 16 points a night. The Tigers are 9-13, finished seventh in the Little Hawkeye Conference, and defeated Clear Creek-Amana 69-58 in the first round. Grinnell does have height with 6’9’’ senior Owen Coffman leading the team with 12.4 points and six rebounds a game. AJ Wilkins is another big option offensively with 12.1 points. Demon Head Coach Collin Stark knows this is a game where you throw out the records. “We play similar styles of basketball. They were without their 6’9’’ center for half of their games and being a part of a tough conference makes their record deceiving.  This is probably the best six seed in any district.” This is the first meeting between these two programs since 2016. 

The playoff showdown begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Washington High School. Listen to the live play-by-play on AM 1380 FM 102.5 FM 106.1 KCII and kciiradio.com starting at 6:30 p.m.