Vale Vikings (Vale, OR) backers were pleased Friday as they saw their basketball squad knock off the host McLoughlin Pioneers (Milton-Freewater, OR), 49-40 in a league bout.

With the victory, Vale upgrades its record to 6-5 on the campaign. The Vikings travel to Burns (Burns, OR) to play the Hilanders in a 3A Eastern Oregon bout on Tuesday, January 9. The Hilanders come into the bout with a record of 10-2.

Next up, the Pioneers play the Dayton Bulldogs (Dayton, WA) in a non-league bout, on Tuesday, January 9. McLoughlin will attempt to upgrade on its 7-3 season record. The Bulldogs come into the bout with a 1-11 record after their 57-23 non-league loss to Oakesdale (Oakesdale, WA).