Since he was hired as boys basketball coach at Kingman High after last season, Dirk Walker knew the day would come.

Now it is here.

Walker will get the chance for his team to face the defending Class 5A Division II state champions from Anthem Boulder Creek, coached by his older brother, Randy. The Northwest Region rivals also will play on Jan. 25 at Boulder Creek.

Dirk Walker said his players have been aware of the connection since both schools played in the same summer-league tournament in the east Valley.

He came to Kingman after six years at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, the last three as head coach. He also played at Cactus Shadows where his brother was head coach. Dirk Walker went on to play at Simpson College in Iowa.

Randy Walker later was head coach at Phoenix Horizon and was a graduate assistant at Northwestern State (La.) for a season before taking the Boulder Creek job.

“I’m sure neither of us is looking forward to trying to beat the other, although when the ball is tipped, it will be pretty much a normal game,’’ Dirk Walker said.

“That’s how we are trying to treat it. He is a great coach, and he has adjustments for everything. I know a little of what they do, and of course, he knows about what I might do since I learned so much from him. I think it is going to be fun.’’

Kingman was 8-7 going into a non-region game against Bullhead City Mohave on Thursday night (Jan. 6), while Boulder Creek is 10-4.

 “My expectations were high at the start and they still are,’’ Walker said. “But when you consider where we started, the players learning about how I like to run things, and where we are now, we have come a long way. The fans here want us to win and we want to win for them. We want to have a good season and build it from there.’’

Kingman played well in holiday tournaments at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain and Lake Havasu, and is gearing up for a competitive region schedule. Walker was pleased with a region road win over Surprise Valley Vista on Tuesday night (Jan. 4).

“We have put a lot of demands on them, but they have responded pretty well,’’ Walker said.

He likes to use a lot more defensive pressure and likes an up-tempo game more than the school’s half-court style used in previous seasons.

“We started pretty well defensively and the offense now is catching up. The players know that they have to be in good condition,’’ Walker said.

Kingman relies heavily on the leadership of 6-foot-1 senior Danny Gonzalez, who has made the transition from off-guard to point guard.