PABLO — Last Friday when everyone was getting their New Years

celebration plans together, the boys’ basketball team at Two Eagle

River was going to work.

PABLO — Last Friday when everyone was getting their New Years celebration plans together, the boys’ basketball team at Two Eagle River was going to work.

Practicing at SKC’s Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center, the Eagles didn’t get much of a break between drills and it wasn’t uncommon to see someone with their hands on their knees for a breather during drills that required them to run the length of the court again, and again and again…

“They’ve been pretty intense,” senior Wesley Nowlen said of his team’s practices. “But that’s going to push us. If we work hard in practice, then games are going to be a break.”

And it doesn’t help when the coach says the dreaded statement “you’ve got a double.”

“It’s tough,” junior Artie Mendoza said. “We run up and back a lot and we run lots of suicides.”

Two Eagle has certainly found their legs in games this season, and plenty of teamwork that’s already gotten them two wins and close calls against some of the best in the district.

“It’s been great team chemistry,” head coach Clayton Malatare said. “Last year there was none of that.”

The Eagles found themselves down in a 12-6 hole to Noxon after the first quarter on Dec. 17. 

“That was a wake up call to us,” Malatare said. “We came out flat and we didn’t execute well. We let the calls and the crowd get to us.”

Two Eagle tightened things up, pulling to within two, 30-28 at the end of the third. In the fourth quarter they led by eight points with three minutes to go before the Red Devils tried to mount a comeback. Noxon missed two free throws with a second to go as the Eagles picked up their first win of the season, 45-44.

It was a thrilling win and a learning lesson for Two Eagle River.

“I told the kids after the Noxon game that every game we could have a different leading scorer,” Malatare said.

That’s certainly been true too. In their last four games, junior Marcus Brown led the Eagles against Charlo with 14, sophomore Clayton Malatare Jr. was tops against Arlee with 19, junior Artie Medoza had 18 against Seeley and junior Skyler Rossbach was the leader against Noxon with 15 points.

“Everybody can score but the main focus is on playing defense,” Rossbach said.

Two Eagle put in its best defensive performance of the season against Seeley-Swan on Dec. 18, as they flew to a 71-33 victory and avenged a 65-33 loss to them last year.

However, its best performance of the young season so far has probably come in a home game against district power Arlee on Dec. 20, which jumped out to a 9-0 lead over the Eagles right at the start of the game. That was when coach Malatare called a time out.

“We got them all settled down,” he said later. “Then it clicked to them after that.”

The Eagles outscored the Warriors in the second and third quarters before Arlee took the narrow 72-66 contest.

“We worked hard and played as a team, we hit the open shots,” Malatare Jr. said.

Two Eagle also outscored Charlo in the fourth quarter on Dec. 21 but again fell to the undefeated conference foe 68-53. Despite this, the players are still positive with how they performed against the two teams.

“I’m pretty sure Arlee is going to be one of the toughest teams in the conference,” Nowlen said.

And being positive is exactly what has been the key to success for Two Eagle.

“This is probably the most fun I’ve had,” coach Malatare said. “This is a fun team. Even when they get down, there’s smiles on the team and we come right back.”

Although reluctant to say it because of the coach-son dynamic, Malatare said that his son and Cutfinger has helped provide leadership to the team. Malatare runs the point and Cutfinger has proven himself as a deadly scoring threat for the Eagles.

“TJ and I stepped up after being picked as team captains,” Malatare Jr. said. “We tried to boost our leadership.”

The team has already held player meetings to help refocus and the team has been very receptive.

“The captains take the role and do a really good job,” Rossbach said.

Brown, who came from Polson to Two Eagle, watched the team from the sidelines last season and saw that it was missing something.

“They weren’t playing as a team as much,” Brown said.

Playing with them this season, Brown has established himself as a solid player for the Eagles.

“Marcus has been a good surprise for us,” Coach Malatare said. “His work ethic has been great.”

However despite coming in to a new team, Brown has done well integrating into the squad since he’s friends with all of them.

“We’re like family,” Brown said. “We’ve all grown up together and we’ve really bonded.” 

Brown said that everyone on the team has the ability to drive to the hole anytime they want, and that you have to be very aware of what’s going on while the Eagles are on offense.

“Clayton has some passes that you have to keep your head up,” Brown said. “He has hard passes.”

The team has shown a balanced scoring attack with several players around the ten-point mark in almost every contest. That’s been balanced with whoever has the hot hand and that person usually ends up being the leading scorer.

“If one player is on we’re not going to tell them to stop shooting,” Cutfinger said.

With a full slate of games after Christmas break, the high-flying style of basketball by the Eagles is sure to do anything but slow down. By the time districts roll around, Two Eagle could be one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament.

“We have a good chance at districts this year,” Medoza said.

And it all goes back to the attitude of the team and their willingness to spend their New Year’s Eve running back and forth. Back and forth.

“We make sure they’re always moving,” Coach Malatare said.

And the direction they’re moving?

Up.