It’s almost to the point where Oskaloosa versus Norwalk boys’ basketball games need Roman numerals, like a Super Bowl or Rocky movie.  The matchups are highly anticipated…and the last time these teams met, it was for the State Class 3A Championship, which Oskaloosa won 48-44.  Tuesday night (1/7), the Indians host Norwalk with the Warriors ranked seventh in the new Class 3A poll from Associated Press and Oskaloosa unranked and winless in the Little Hawkeye Conference.  The Indians have been without senior center Xavier Foster for their last four games due to illness, but Oskaloosa Coach Ryan Parker says the Iowa State recruit will play Tuesday.

“I think he’s coming back and will be able to play.  He had a good Christmas break, and honestly he’s been practicing with us for the last couple of weeks. He just couldn’t take some contact because of an enlarged spleen.  We’re excited to have him back.”

Norwalk features an outstanding senior of their own in guard Bowen Born, who averages 36 points a game.  Parker was asked about containing him.

“I think you try to limit him a little bit, but understand that he’s going to get his (points) to a certain extent.  And I think at some point, we’re just honestly worried about ourselves. We haven’t played well in the first half of the year Some of that’s because of the adversity we’ve faced.  Now we’re at full strength and excited to be back, and like I said, a really quality opponent that’s going to give us a big time test.”

You can hear Tuesday night’s Oskaloosa/Norwalk game on KBOE-FM and KBOE Radio dot com.  We’ll be on the air at 6:00 with the pregame show with the girls’ game at 6:15 and the boys’ game around 7:45.