The first of back-to-back games of the season takes the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers boys basketball team (1-1 overall) to Alleman tonight. The North Polk Comets welcome the Tigers to town for a nonconference matchup. ADM ran away with last year’s meeting in Adel, 68-31.

The Tigers return to the court six days removed from their first loss of the season, 57-52, last Friday in Ballard. Senior Rylan Heffernan and junior Koby Hardcastle tied for the team lead with 14 points scored apiece. Junior Logan Crannell was impactful on both sides of the floor for ADM. He finished with nine points, making four of his five shot attempts, grabbed five rebounds (four offensive), and snatched four steals in the setback. After one week of play, Heffernan tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the team hasn’t shown it’s full potential yet. “The last quarter of the Pella Christian (game), that’s how we can play all the time.” Heffernan said, “We just have to get into a rhythm together.”

ADM trailed Pella Christian 59-48 in their season opener November 28. The Tigers outscored the Eagles 17-4 in the quarter for a come from behind victory. After tonight’s game with North Polk, the Tigers will be on the floor less than 24 hours later in a Raccoon River Conference rivalry game against the Winterset Huskies in Adel. Instead of trying to prepare for both teams, ADM boys basketball coach Aaron Mager focused on improving his team. “Improving our habits, improving our reaction and response to situations so that no matter what North Polk or Winterset run, offensively let’s say, we’re ready to react and do things without thinking.” Mager said, “If you’re thinking (on defense), then you’re in trouble. We are trying to build those responses so they are quicker (than before), and we are more cohesive and together in what we’re running.”

Tonight’s varsity game between ADM and North Polk tips off at 7:30 p.m. in Alleman. Catch the game on True Country, K 107.9 and worldwide at raccoonvalleyradio.com and on the KKRF mobile app beginning with the Lincoln Savings Bank Pregame Show around 7 p.m. Also hear the latest ADM Student Spotlight with junior wrestler Andrew Flora during halftime of tonight’s game.