The Bland County Bears (Rocky Gap, VA) basketball nipped the host Giles Spartans (Pearisburg, VA), 46-43 in Friday's league test.

The Bears (7-8) will now prepare for their test against Craig County (New Castle, VA). The Rockets go into the non-league test with a 0-8 record. In their last test, Craig County was tipped by George Wythe (Wytheville, VA), 58-16, in a non-league test.

The Spartans now own a 0-11 record. They play next when they travel to George Wythe for a Mountain Empire test on Tuesday, January 17. Giles will encounter a Maroons squad coming off a 41-30 league win over Fort Chiswell (Max Meadows, VA). The Maroons record now stands at 10-2.