Hope Bobcats (Hope, AR) backers were in high spirits Friday as they witnessed their basketball squad tip the visiting Malvern Leopards (Malvern, AR), 54-53 in a league bout.

With the win, Hope upgrades its record to 6-2 on the season. The Bobcats host De Queen (De Queen, AR) to play the Leopards in a 4A Region 7 bout on Tuesday, January 9. The Leopards go into the bout with a record of 4-8. De Queen lost 70-55 in their recent league bout against Arkadelphia (Arkadelphia, AR)

Next up, the Leopards play the Nashville Scrappers (Nashville, AR) in a 4A Region 7 bout, on Tuesday, January 9. Malvern will attempt to upgrade on its 4-4 season record. The Scrappers go into the bout with a 6-2 record after their 61-28 league win over Ashdown (Ashdown, AR).