The crowd at Friday's non-league challenge between the Helias Crusaders (Jefferson City, MO) and the visiting Battle Spartans (Columbia, MO), observed Helias's basketball team edge Battle by a score of 50-46.

The Crusaders (14-9) will now prepare for their challenge against Smith-Cotton (Sedalia, MO). The Tigers come into the Central Missouri challenge with a 14-7 record. In their last challenge, Smith-Cotton edged Boonville (Boonville, MO), 62-44, in a non-league challenge.

In their next game, the Spartans encounter the Boonville Pirates (Boonville, MO) in a non-league challenge, on Monday, February 17. Battle will attempt to improve on its 13-7 season record. The Pirates come into the challenge with a 13-10 record after their 62-44 non-league loss to Smith-Cotton (Sedalia, MO).