The crowd at Monday's league challenge between the McGregor Mercuries (McGregor, MN) and the host North Woods grizzlies (Cook, MN), saw McGregor's basketball team thwart North Woods by a margin of 71-63.

The Mercuries (6-3) will now prepare for their contest against Cook County (Grand Marais, MN). The Vikings go into the A Section 7 contest with a 0-10 record. In their last contest, Cook County was topped by Two Harbors (Two Harbors, MN), 64-27, in a non-league contest.

In their next game, the grizzlies battle the Ely Timberwolves (Ely, MN) in a non-league contest, on Thursday, January 2. North Woods will attempt to better on its 2-6 season record. The Timberwolves go into the contest with a 5-2 record after their 49-46 non-league win over Two Harbors (Two Harbors, MN).