Very few teams are more familiar with each other than the Helias Crusaders and the Jefferson City Jays.
The two rivals will face each other on the basketball court for the sixth time in the past 15 months when they tip off for tonight's Class 6 District 9 Tournament championship at Rackers Fieldhouse. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.
Helias has won its past 10 meetings against Jefferson City.
Earlier this season, the Crusaders won their Dec. 30 meeting 59-53 in the Joe Machens Fantastic Four Tournament, then won 52-48 against the Jays in their first Central Missouri Activities Conference meeting. Both games were played at Fleming Fieldhouse.
Helias (19-6), the No. 1 seed in the district, won 78-36 in Tuesday's semifinal against Sedalia Smith-Cotton. Desmond White led the Crusaders with 26 points, Malcolm Davis added 19 points and Damon Johnanns finished with 14 points.
Jefferson City (11-14), the No. 2 seed, also won in the semifinals Tuesday, defeating Capital City 69-56. Sterling DeSha led a balanced scoring attack for the Jays with 15 points, followed by Steven Samuels with 14 points, Kevion Pendelton with 13 points and Michael Onunkwor with 12 points.
Helias is seeking its fourth district title in the past six seasons, while Jefferson City is trying to win its first district championship since 2015.
Tonight's winner advances to Tuesday night's sectional game against the District 10 champion. Top-seeded Parkview (14-10) will face third-seeded Waynesville (13-110 at 6 p.m. tonight at Lebanon High School.