Vale Vikings (Vale, OR) backers were in high spirits Friday as they witnessed their basketball squad thwart the host McLoughlin Pioneers (Milton-Freewater, OR), 51-38 in a league bout.

With the win, Vale upgrades its record to 10-9 on the season. The Vikings host Baker (Baker City, OR) to play the Bulldogs in a non-league bout on Tuesday, January 31. The Bulldogs go into the bout with a record of 15-4. Baker won 58-47 in their recent league bout against La Grande (La Grande, OR)

Next up, the Pioneers play the Burns Hilanders (Burns, OR) in a 3A Eastern Oregon bout, on Friday, February 3. McLoughlin will attempt to upgrade on its 3-14 season record. The Hilanders go into the bout with a 15-3 record after their 57-48 league win over Umatilla (Umatilla, OR).