ARLEE - Dustin Keltner knows the schedule for his team isn't a

cakewalk, but he also knows that the Warriors get better when they

play a tougher opponent.

ARLEE - Dustin Keltner knows the schedule for his team isn't a cakewalk, but he also knows that the Warriors get better when they play a tougher opponent.

"We play Mission and Loyola twice this season and they've got some quality kids," Keltner said. "We enjoy the challenge, our non-conference schedule is extremely difficult and it's definitely going to strengthen us. It prepares us mentally and puts us in lots of situations you can't simulate."

Class B power Loyola traveled to Arlee last Thursday and had their hands full with the Warriors. After jumping out to an early 20-12 lead in the first quarter, Loyola was only up 28-23 at halftime.

"I think we came out and played really hard," Keltner said. "We had a nice run in the third quarter but Loyola battled back."

After an initial move by Arlee, Loyola ended up winning the third quarter 17-11 and led 45-34 going into the fourth.

Junior Sansavere led the team with 14 points, but the Warriors fell 54-38 to Loyola.

Then on Saturday, Arlee went to work against St. Regis in a 64-18 victory to improve its record to 6-7 on the season and 4-4 in the district. Keltner said the team focused in on post play and interior scoring. Carrying the load was Christian Haynes with 17 points and Josh Reed with 12.

"The kids were really unselfish and worked the ball inside," Keltner said. "We also talked about intensity and getting better at what we do."

What Arlee did, and what they've done all season is play good defense. The Warriors shut out St. Regis in the first and third quarters of the game.

"We've been doing a great job defensively all year," Keltner said. "We've been focusing on taking away teams' strengths."

Seeing his first varsity action was freshman P.J. Haynes, known to occasionally take to the air in summer 3-on-3 dunk tournaments, and he scored eight points.

"He's got great hands for a freshman," Keltner said. "Alot of our young kids work really hard and really push our varsity kids."

Keltner has been impressed with his younger players, which make up a bulk of the team. Josh Reed, Christian Haynes, Dominic Burland, and Zane Ligas have consistently been improving, working hard and Keltner thinks that it will pay off at the end of this season and into next year.

Arlee will soon get the services of seniors Brandon Herget and Dustin Baker in the lineup and that should only serve to improve the team.

"It's a compliment to them that they've kept working and them coming in will definitely help our rebounding, defense and shore up our interior," Keltner said.

Arlee will play Mission on Thursday at home and then powerhouse Noxon on the road on Friday.

"It's a battle every night," Keltner said of his district. "Everybody seems like they turn around and knock everybody else off."

ST. REGIS @ ARLEE

St. Regis - 0 - 13 - 0 - 5 - 18

Arlee - 17 - 20 - 17 - 10 - 64

Warriors scoring - Christian Haynes 17, Mark Fullerton 8, Junior Sansavre 5, Dominic Burland 5, Justin Adams 7, Josh Reed 12, P.J. Haynes 8, Jordan Keltner 2

LOYOLA @ ARLEE

Loyola - 20 - 8 - 17 - 9 - 54

Arlee - 12 - 11 - 11 - 4 - 38

Warriors scoring - Christian Haynes 5, Mark Fullerton 5, Junior Sansavere 14, Justin Adams 2, Josh Reed 8, Dominic Burland 2, Zane Ligas 2