The crowd at Wednesday's non-league challenge between the Watauga Pioneers (Boone, NC) and the visiting Freedom Patriots (Morganton, NC), observed Watauga's basketball team edge Freedom by a score of 48-42.

The Pioneers (9-2) will now prepare for their challenge against Ashe County (West Jefferson, NC). The Huskies come into the non-league challenge with a 0-11 record. In their last challenge, Ashe County was tipped by South Caldwell (Hudson, NC), 63-16, in a non-league challenge.

In their next game, the Patriots encounter the Alexander Central Cougars (Taylorsville, NC) in a non-league challenge, on Friday, January 24. Freedom will attempt to improve on its 12-2 season record. The Cougars come into the challenge with a 6-8 record after their 59-50 league win over Hibriten (Lenoir, NC).