The last time the Redskins and Panthers met on the basketball court, it made for an instant classic.
Loudon overcame a half time deficit to force overtime against Lenoir City, and nearly went in for a second when the game ended with a 77-75 Redskins win.

It would be hard for Friday's game between the rivals to live up to the same quality, but there is plenty of reason to be excited.

In the girls game, the addition of Lenoir City coach Josh Epperson and his style of play should make for an interesting game. Both teams now run, in stretches, a relentless full-court press that could make for a game full of turnovers and fast-break baskets.

With Lenoir City looking for their first win over the Lady Redskins since 2009, you can also expect the Lady Panthers' senior class to come into the game with some determination.

The boys' game brings a new coach as well, Loudon's Trae Watkins. His team is off to one of its better starts in recent years, but has not found consistency just yet. Both teams look to score and score often, setting up for the possibility of a high-scoring contest.

Several of Loudon's players come in looking to avenge a loss to the Panthers to start the football season, while it is unlikely the Panthers have forgotten losing their first basketball game to the Redskins since 2008.

All four teams will enter Friday's games with records of .500 or better for the first times since the series was rekindled in 2007 after the teams went two seasons without meeting.

The game should also be the best attended game for either team in the early season as meeting between the two schools tend to draw a strong fan response.

While both games hold a recent history of domination on one side, with Loudon's girls and Lenoir City's boys winning the majority of games in the last few seasons, the teams enter Friday's meeting much more evenly matched than in recent years.

The two teams will not meet again until Feb. 8. It will be the final game of the regular season for the Panthers.