WINTERSET — On the day Class 3A district and substate assignments were released, the fifth-ranked Creston boys ended up taking on their district-opening opponent.

The Panthers, playing their third game in four days, defeated Winterset 67-52 on the Huskies’ court. The return meeting will be in Creston on Feb. 18 to open Class 3A District 15 play. The winner meets either ADM or second-ranked Atlantic on Feb. 21 in Greenfield (see related story).

“You get to see each other, and make some adjustments,” Creston coach Billy Hiatt said, after his team improved to 16-2. “They are a pretty physical team. They do some good things, they shoot some threes. They’ll present a challenge.”