By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– “We practice like we play…We will win tomorrow.”

“Do you want to be part of something special?  Tomorrow is a big day for us.”

Dean Sanderson pushed his McKay Royal Scot (4-7, 1-2 Greater Valley Conference) on the court physically, while giving them words of wisdom and confidence entering Friday night’s game versus West Salem.

“It’s a big game, any league game is big,” said Sanderson.  “This school and this program is about is as different as you can get than West Salem.

“Our kids are different, there mentality is different.  But West Salem is used to having success against us and that’s a big hurdle for us to overcome.  Just before the game West Salem is going to think that they’re going to beat us.”

For Tristen Wilson, his four-years as a Royal Scot has been plaque by loss after loss by the Titans during his time as

“Two hard practices.  Two of the hardest practices I’ve ever been a part of in this program and these guys are trying to prepare us for the game tomorrow night,” said Wilson.  “I think we’ve worked our asses off last night and tonight to prepare us for West Salem.”

With the help of Sanderson, Matt Espinoza and Jack Martino to continue the high pace of practice, something that they’ve been doing since Tuesday to prepare for whatever West Salem is going to throw their way.

“We have to counter that with knowing that’s not the case but that’s hard to change,” said Sanderson.  “That’s why we’re pushing them so hard.  We’re good enough to beat them at our own home floor.

“The sooner in the game that we can come and show that, that better our opportunity is to come out on top.”

West Salem enters Friday night’s game at 3-9 overall and sits a half-game ahead of McKay in the GVC at 2-2 following their 54-49 victory over Sprague Tuesday night.

But for the McKay Men, Sanderson knows that his team will battle and points to the kids having to fight their whole lives.  Now, they have to translate that to the court.

“It goes back to our kids battled their whole life and now we have to get them to battle on the basketball court the same way they’ve had to battle,” said Sanderon. “If they do that, then West Salem there’s nothing that they can do about that.”

For Noah Tavera, he knows come game time, they need to come out with intensity and fire if they want to walk away with a win.

“It’s pretty hard, we got to come out with intensity and coming out with the win,” he said. “First league game, it’s important it give us momentum heading into the rest of the games.”

Friday’s games start at 5:45 with the Lady Scots and the Lady Titans with the guys to follow afterwards.

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!