The Mt. Zion Braves basketball squad (Mt. Zion, IL), was nudged 46-42 in Saturday's league battle with the visiting Effingham Hearts (Effingham, IL)

With the victory, Effingham advances its record to 15-3 on the year. The Hearts travel to Taylorville (Taylorville, IL) to meet the Tornadoes in a Apollo battle on Tuesday, January 14. The Tornadoes enter the battle with a record of 10-7. Taylorville lost 53-32 in their recent non-league battle against Mater Dei (Breese, IL)

The Braves now own a 9-11 record. They put it on the line next when they host Charleston for a Apollo battle on Tuesday, January 14. Mt. Zion will meet a Trojans squad coming off a 57-49 non-league loss to Neoga (Neoga, IL). The Trojans record now stands at 2-15.