Pella Boys Basketball Team Begins Playoff Run

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The #4 ranked Pella boys basketball team begins its playoff run tonight as they host Fairfield in the Class 3A substate opener. Pella finished the regular season 18-4 overall and as runners-up in the Little Hawkeye Conference, earning the No. 1 seed in their substate bracket. Fairfield comes in at 2-18 on the season, having lost 12 straight games. Pella owns the all-time series against the Trojans 14-1, having won the last five matchups.

Why it matters

Pella is looking to make a deep run in the state tournament this year after falling short in previous seasons. A win over Fairfield would be the first step towards that goal, as the Dutch aim to advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2023.

The details

Pella is led by its balanced scoring attack, with no player averaging more than 12.4 points per game. Fairfield is paced by junior Ethan Bisgard, who is averaging 12.4 points per game for the struggling Trojans. The Dutch have dominated the all-time series against Fairfield, winning 14 of the 15 meetings, including the last five in a row.

• The Class 3A substate playoffs begin tonight, February 23, 2026.
• Pella finished the 2025-26 regular season at 18-4 overall.

What’s next

If Pella wins tonight, they will advance to the substate final on Saturday, February 28th, where they would face the winner of the other semifinal matchup.