The crowd at Saturday's non-league challenge between the Sparta Bulldogs (Sparta, IL) and the visiting Murphysboro Red Devils (Murphysboro, IL), observed Sparta's basketball team edge Murphysboro by a score of 50-49.

The Bulldogs (3-5) will now prepare for their challenge against Chester (Chester, IL). The Yellowjackets come into the Cahokia - Illinois challenge with a 2-7 record. In their last challenge, Chester was tipped by Carlyle (Carlyle, IL), 75-39, in a league challenge.

In their next game, the Red Devils encounter the Herrin Tigers (Herrin, IL) in a Southern Illinois River-to-River - Ohio challenge, on Tuesday, December 10. Murphysboro will attempt to improve on its 1-7 season record. The Tigers come into the challenge with a 5-4 record after their 43-40 non-league win over Steeleville (Steeleville, IL).