Things are clicking for Two Eagle River

When Two Eagle River played Arlee last Monday night, they found themselves immediately in a 9-0 hole as the Warriors jumped out to a quick start. Then Eagles head coach Clayton Malatare called a time out.

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

Two Eagle River would go on to outscore the Warriors in the second and third quarters before Arlee took the narrow 72-66 district game.

“I was really proud of them,” Malatare said. “They never got down on one another.”

It was also something extra special for Malatare, who use to coach in Arlee and still lives there. Before the game, many players on Arlee came up and gave hugs, adding a little sentimentality to the game. With players on their team also from Arlee, a favorite for the district title, Two Eagle River knew it was a big game for them and their coach.

“It was one we really wanted,” Malatare said. “The guys were really pumped up in the locker room.”

A positive attitude has been one of the keys to success so far this season for the Eagles. Earlier in the season, in their district opener against Noxon, the Eagles had also gotten out to a slow start with the Red Devils leading 12-6 after the first.

“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 River tighten their game up, got the game to within two points after three quarters. In the fourth, they took a eight-point lead and then fended a comeback by Noxon, who missed two free throws with one second to go in the game to give the Eagles the 45-44 win.

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 for the most part been absolutely true. In their last four games, Marcus Brown led the Eagles against Charlo with 14, Clayton Malatare Jr. was tops against Arlee with 19, Artie Medoza had 18 against Seeley and Skyler Rossbach was the leader against Noxon with 15 points.

Multiple players getting into double digits isn’t uncommon either. One could probably say that the Eagles have the most balanced attacks in the district. However, with so many scorers on one team, somebody has to keep everybody calm and on the same page.

No problem.

Malatare said that he’s seen lots of team leadership from TJ Cutfinger and his son, Clayton Malatare Jr. While he said he’s reluctant to shower praise on his own son, he said that he’s been impressed with the leadership from the sophomore.

“He and TJ have really taken it under their wing,” Malatare said. “They’ve already called a player meeting without the coaches. It’s been great.”

Also this season, Two Eagle River scored a big win over Seeley-Swan 71-33, which avenged a 65-33 loss last season. They also played Charlo and Arlee close this year, two conference favorites and two teams that scored big wins against them last season.

Things are changing in Pablo.

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

It’s still early in the season too, meaning there’s plenty of growth left for Two Eagle River. When it comes down to tournament time at the end of the season, that fun and positive attitude could pay some huge dividends.