The crowd at Friday's league challenge between the McLoughlin Pioneers (Milton-Freewater, OR) and the host Vale Vikings (Vale, OR), observed McLoughlin's basketball team edge Vale by a score of 46-43.

The Pioneers (5-7) will now prepare for their challenge against Riverside (Boardman, OR). The Pirates come into the 3A Eastern Oregon challenge with a 12-4 record. In their last challenge, Riverside edged Nyssa (Nyssa, OR), 80-55, in a league challenge.

In their next game, the Vikings encounter the Burns Hilanders (Burns, OR) in a 3A Eastern Oregon challenge, on Tuesday, January 14. Vale will attempt to improve on its 5-5 season record. The Hilanders come into the challenge with a 9-3 record after their 53-45 non-league loss to Sisters (Sisters, OR).