In Friday's non-league test, the Merkel Badgers (Merkel, TX) basketball team edged the visiting Ballinger Bearcats (Ballinger, TX), by a tally of 62-60.

The Badgers now possess a 2-2 record. They play next when they travel to Coleman for a non-league bout on Friday, December 5. Merkel will play a Bluecats team coming off a 54-42 non-league loss to Stamford (Stamford, TX). The Bluecats record now stands at 2-3.

With the loss, Ballinger moves to 5-4 on the season. The Bearcats travel to Normangee (Normangee, TX) to encounter the Panthers in a non-league test on Thursday, December 11. The Panthers come into the test with a record of 2-7.