The Licking Valley Panthers basketball team (Newark, OH), was nudged 53-46 in Tuesday's non-league battle with the host Johnstown-Monroe Johnnies (Johnstown, OH)

The Johnnies now possess a 9-6 record. They put it on the line next when they host Utica for a Licking County - Cardinal battle on Friday, January 27. Johnstown-Monroe will confront a Redskins team coming off a 49-40 league loss to Granville (Granville, OH). The Redskins record now stands at 7-6.

The Panthers (6-10) will now prepare for their battle against Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, OH). The Warriors come into the Licking County - Buckeye battle with a 8-8 record. In their last battle, Watkins Memorial edged Lakewood (Hebron, OH), 51-44, in a non-league test.