The Bland Tigers basketball team (Merit, TX), was nudged 35-32 in Friday's league battle with the host Whitewright Tigers (Whitewright, TX)

The Tigers now possess a 9-10 record. They put it on the line next when they travel to Celeste for a 2A Region II District 14 battle on Tuesday, January 16. Whitewright will battle a Blue Devils team coming off a 64-29 league win over Trenton (Trenton, TX). The Blue Devils record now stands at 10-10.

The Tigers (13-11) will now prepare for their battle against Sam Rayburn (Ivanhoe, TX). The Rebels come into the 2A Region II District 14 battle with a 15-9 record. In their last battle, Sam Rayburn was nudged by Honey Grove (Honey Grove, TX), 50-49, in a league battle.