The Paden City boys basketball team have had a tough start to the ’09 season with two losses in the past week.

On Dec. 16 in McMechen the Wildcats took on the Bishops of Bishop Donahue High School, taking the loss, 69-46 when all was said and done.

On Dec. 18-19 the team hosted their annual Bob and Sharon Burton Holiday Tournament in Paden City, inviting teams from St. Marys, Valley and Wood County Christian School to participate.

In the first game of the tournament on Friday, the home team fell to cross county rivals, the Valley Lumberjacks, by a 50-35 margin.

Zach Yost turned in a double-double performance for the ‘Cats, scoring 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds; senior Malakai Anderson also doubled with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Peyton Hinkley was credited with 10 rebounds for Paden City in the game.

In the second game of the evening, the St. Marys Blue Devils defeated the Wood County Christian Wildcats, 48-42, putting the Devils and Lumberjacks vying for the championship on Saturday.

The Valley Lumberjacks went on to take the championship over St. Marys on Saturday. Paden City was at Bridgeport on Tuesday and after the holidays, will host Cameron at Bob Burton gymnasium on Jan. 5.