The crowd at Friday's non-league challenge between the Mena Bearcats (Mena, AR) and the host Dierks Outlaws (Dierks, AR), observed Mena's basketball team edge Dierks by a score of 50-46.

The Bearcats (7-3) will now prepare for their challenge against Valley Springs (Valley Springs, AR). The Tigers come into the non-league challenge with a 4-14 record. In their last challenge, Valley Springs was tipped by Norwood (Norwood, MO), 66-50, in a non-league challenge.

In their next game, the Outlaws encounter the Bradley Bears (Bradley, AR) in a non-league challenge, on Friday, December 27. Dierks will attempt to improve on its 5-7 season record. The Bears come into the challenge with a 3-10 record after their 68-62 league loss to Lafayette County (Stamps, AR).