Every champion has had predecessors who laid the foundation of victory.

And as the struggle for a victory continues for both the Alberton High School boys and girls basketball teams, there will come a day when the victories roll in.

It will be their day.

For now, the losses mount but the effort does not wane.

This past week, the girls lost 56-9 to Western 14C conference second place Charlo on Friday night in Charlo. It came of the heels of a 49-15 loss Tuesday to Two Eagle River in Pablo.

The Alberton boys, meanwhile, kept battling for a victory in this their first varsity season, but fell 68-19 to league-leading Charlo and 72-26 to Two Eagle River on the road Tuesday night.

Against Charlo, the girls fell behind 13-2 after one quarter of play and could not recover the rest of the way. The kept fighting to the final buzzer but could not match Charlo’s experience and talent.

Tuesday night against Two Eagle River, the Lady Panthers fought the Lady Eagles to a near draw, trailing by just two, 6-4 at the end of the first quarter of play. Two Eagle then outscored Alberton 18-5 in the second quarter as they built their lead to 24-10 at halftime.

The visitors outscored Alberton 25-5 in the second half to clinch the victory.

Alberton’s boys also fell behind Charlo early, trailing 23-4 after one quarter of play and 42-12 at the half as the Vikings kept their 14C record unblemished with the victory.

The taller, more seasoned Vikings had three players score in double figures, led by senior forward Keaton Piedalue’s 16 points.

Alberton got a team-high 16 from Jonah Renaud.

Tuesday night in Pablo, the Panthers found themselves on the wrong end of a 33-5 score at the end of the first quarter as the run and gun Eagles raced out to the quick and overwhelming early lead.

The never-quit Panthers battled Two Eagle to a 12-12 scoring draw in the second quarter, making the score 45-17 at halftime. Two Eagle outscored Alberton 27-9 in the second half to cruise to the win. Alberton was once again paced by Renaud, who again had 16 points.

Next up for Alberton is a home game this Friday against Superior, whose girls are unbeaten and in first place in league play. The Panthers and Lady Panthers then travel to Hot Springs for boys and girls games versus the Savage Heat.