The crowd at Thursday's non-league challenge between the Mangum Tigers (Mangum, OK) and the host Merritt Oilers (Elk City, OK), observed Mangum's basketball team knock off Merritt by a score of 51-33.

The Tigers (14-7) will now prepare for their challenge against Navajo (Altus, OK). The Indians come into the Shortgrass challenge with a 7-13 record. In their last challenge, Navajo prevailed over Cordell (Cordell, OK), 66-17, in a league challenge.

In their next game, the Oilers encounter the Balko Bison (Balko, OK) in a non-league challenge, on Saturday, February 8. Merritt will attempt to improve on its 10-10 season record. The Bison come into the challenge with a 11-4 record after their 62-54 non-league win over Texhoma (Texhoma, OK).