The Illini Central Cougars basketball team (Mason City, IL), was nudged 49-43 in Friday's non-league battle with the visiting Beardstown Tigers (Beardstown, IL)

The Tigers now sport a 12-3 record. They put it on the line next when they travel to Tremont for a non-league battle on Saturday, December 30. Beardstown will battle a Turks team coming off a 66-58 non-league win over PORTA (Petersburg, IL). The Turks record now stands at 9-4.

The Cougars (6-5) will now prepare for their battle against Lutheran (Springfield, IL). The Crusaders come into the non-league battle with a 7-8 record. In their last battle, Lutheran was nudged by Edinburg (Edinburg, IL), 80-64, in a non-league battle.