In Friday's league match, the host Verndale Pirates basketball team scored a tight 61-55 triumph over the Bertha-Hewitt Bears.

In their next game, the Pirates meet the Henning Hornets (Henning, MN) in a non-league match, on Tuesday, January 9. Verndale will attempt to better on its 9-2 season record. The Hornets enter the match with a 5-6 record after their 55-46 league loss to New York Mills (New York Mills, MN).

With the defeat, Bertha-Hewitt moves to 6-5 on the year. The Bears host St. John's Prep (Collegeville, MN) to meet the Johnnies in a A Section 5 match on Tuesday, January 9. The Johnnies enter the match with a record of 3-2. St. John's Prep won 47-38 in their recent non-league match against International School of Minnesota (Eden Prairie, MN)