By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  Intensity flowed into Trap Play Monday afternoon for the McKay Boy’s basketball team in preparation for Tuesday’s game against Century.

But it was an somber statement by Head Coach Dean Sanderson at the end of practice rang close to home for the whole team.

It was a challenge.  What do you want this season to be about?  Will you give it your all or find an excuse not too?

“He’s trying to motivate us to start leading,” said senior Demeris Bailey.  “We haven’t done a good job with that.  It motivates me.”

Noah Tavera adds to Bailey’s comment that they need to work harder to get better.

“We’re too slow, we lost two games in a row, so we have to step it up,” said the junior.  “We got to work a lot harder than we do and we got to come out (and) fight for some wins.  Fight for the playoffs, battling for the seniors.

“Us juniors, sophomores, we got to step it up big, especially without a big senior group.”

Tavera mentioned that in the drill before the speech that saw the seniors lost to the underclassman, Tavera described the heart that was in that drill as what they need to do to make their run on game day.

“We just got to fight with heart like we did in the drill, we gave it all we got,” said Tavera.  “As long as we fight for what we want and you’re working hard all the time, it’ll come to you.

At 0-2, the Royal Scots Men’s Basketball team is looking for something to get them into the win column following Friday’s loss to Aloha.

“Last game was an eye opener,” said Tristen Wilson.  “We knew what it took to play at a fast level and we saw what it looked like to play at a fast level.  We just couldn’t do it last game.”

Tavera added that, for them to get into the win column against Century Tuesday night.

“We just got to have everyone buy in and everyone have to have a winning mentality,” “Just giving it all,

“It’s what’s in here,” said Tavera pointing to his heart.  “Then up here,” as he points to his head.  “You play with your heart.”

Bailey describes the game plan to do it, to win, is to trust the system that they have been practicing and to be in the right spots.

“(To) be in the right spots in our press, get some easy buckets,” said Bailey,  “Never slowing it down and keep going.”

Tip off against the Jaguars is 6:45 pm.

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81!

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