Late November marks the beginning of the area basketball season, and three area teams take the court tonight in Lone Tree for night one of the Four Corners Shootout in a girls doubleheader you can hear on KCII.

The night will begin with Highland taking on Keota. Last year, the Huskies completed 17-8 overall and 11-5 conference campaigns, advancing to a regional semifinal. As a team, Highland scored 50 points per game and gave up 46, shooting 32% from the field, 25% from deep and 53% from the foul line, with 43 rebounds, 14 assists, 16 steals, four blocks, and 22 turnovers a night. The squad returns plenty of familiar faces from last season, including sophomore standout Kamryn Fink. Fink was top five in 1A with over 14 rebounds per game, and was second in both blocks and points per outing in the Superconference North.

The Eagles went 11-11 overall and 6-8 in the South Iowa Cedar League a season ago. In 2024, Keota scored 47 points per game and gave up 46, shooting 31% from the floor, 24% from three and 55% from the charity stripe, with 27 rebounds, nine assists, 13 steals, one block, and 19 turnovers a game. The leading returner is sophomore Cameron Haifley, who was top five in the SICL East with her 12 points, two steals and 27% three point shooting. Junior Emily Conger returns as the SICL East’s best free throw shooter from last year at 78%.

In the Varsity Bound era, the Huskies have never lost to the Eagles in nine matchups dating back to 2010, including a win last season 58-53.

The Lady Lions of Lone Tree will take their home floor in the nightcap against Iowa Valley. Lone Tree had a season to remember last year, finishing 20-4 overall and wrapped up a 13-3 second place effort in the SEISC. As a bunch, the Lady Lions scored 58 points per game and allowed 35, shooting 35% from the field, 27% from three and 56% from the foul line, all best in the SEISC-North. They compiled 36 rebounds, 12 assists, 16 steals, three blocks, and 15 turnovers a night. Individually, senior Finley Jacque returns after a first-team all-conference season last year where she led the Superconference North with her 16 points and four assists per game.

Iowa Valley captured seven wins last year on their way to a 4-11 mark in the SICL. The Tigers scored 39 points per game and gave up 51, shooting 33% from the field, 19% from downtown and 54% from the line, with 34 boards, nine assists, seven steals, one block, and 21 turnovers a contest. Senior Myla Frimml is the top returner with seven points, six rebounds and a 43% field goal percentage, the second-best mark last season in the SICL-East.

In the Varsity Bound era, the all-time series between the Lady Lions and Tigers is tied 4-4 dating back to 2017. Last year’s matchup went the way of Lone Tree 48-27.

You can hear tonight’s Area Game of the Week girls basketball doubleheader live on all KCII signals, streams and apps beginning with pregame show coverage of game one between Highland and Keota at 5:30, tipoff at 6, and game two to follow between the Lady Lions and Tigers from Lone Tree High School.