The Pine River-Backus Tigers basketball team (Pine River, MN), was nudged 70-63 in Thursday's league battle with the host Verndale Pirates (Verndale, MN)

The Pirates now possess a 5-19 record. They put it on the line next when they host Long Prairie-Grey Eagle for a A Section 5 battle on Monday, February 26. Verndale will confront a Thunder team coming off a 49-40 league loss to St. John's Prep (Collegeville, MN). The Thunder record now stands at 5-20.

The Tigers (5-18) will now prepare for their battle against Red Lake (Red Lake, MN). The Warriors come into the A Section 8 battle with a 17-6 record. In their last battle, Red Lake edged Blackduck (Blackduck, MN), 94-70, in a league battle.