Two Eagle boys basketball team: the struggle to soar beyond the rim

By Alyssa Kelly

The Two Eagle boys team had a successful season which earned them the opportunity to play in Class C District Tournaments. (Courtesy photo)

PABLO - "Being on the team helped us realize we had more potential than we thought," says freshman varsity Two Eagle River School point guard Jarod Tanner. "It felt good to know we had so people standing by us throughout the season."

Two Eagle River School is an alternative American Indian high school and its students come from reservations throughout Montana and beyond.

Like most basketball teams, Two Eagle faces challenges every season. Some include overcoming the sudden clash of players and athletic styles in order to compete against teams who've trained together since grade school. They have also been known to overcome unfair referee calls a possible result of discrimination.

However, on the court challenges are often a small fraction of hardship faced by the players who join the team. This past season, some of the players stayed focused through alcoholism, either with themselves or in their homes, abandonment, legal trouble, and poverty in order to make it to practice or games.

"A lot of my players come from tragic lifestyles and that's something we need to cater to," says Two Eagle River School boys' basketball coach Jamie Hanson. "I've seen that being on a team gives these kids a second family. I think most of the players use basketball to persevere and that's what makes Two Eagle different."

In spite of personal troubles, this past season proved to be successful for the boys on the Two Eagle team. With daily practices and an undoubtedly smooth chemistry between players, the class C team won a great portion of the games they competed in, which resulted in an earned opportunity to play in 14-C District divisional tournaments. Following a hectic game against Noxon High School.

"Winning against Noxon for our spot in divisionals was definitely the highlight of the season," says senior and point guard Arley Grand Champ. "We weren't really expected to make it past the semi-final round but it felt good to do it."

The season also brought attention to an outstanding athlete, Kyle Stensgar, whose ability earned him a Montana Standard Honorable Mention. In the 91 to 80 point victory game against Lincoln High School, Stensgar scored an astounding 45 points.

"He did good," says the team's center, George Rider. "But a lot of times he felt like all the pressure was on him to carry the game. He said it was too much."

Hansen enjoys seeing his team's success on the court but finds success in life to be more worthwhile. "I think our players need to focus on academics more than sports," he says. "If they don't have the grades, basketball isn't going to help them in life. It's a waste of talent when a top athlete isn't eligible to play basketball for a college team."

Hansen's enthusiasm for success in life has reached some players, particularly center Nate Drennan, who is a junior. A first time starter, Drennan earned his position through hard work both on and off the court.

Drennan's highlight moments in the season included dunking the ball and refraining from using drugs or alcohol. "My Native ways, spiritually, helped me through the season," he says. "When I had nothing left, I looked to them to help."

Drennan plans on attending courses in natural medicine this coming summer.

Another player who plans to utilize what he's learned from being on a team is senior James Knapp who played point guard position. Knapp is working hard to graduate this coming spring and has been accepted to the Marines. "It's the best thing I've done by far in my life," he says.

Hansen would like to give an honorable mention to all of the players on this past season's Two Eagle Boys' team for their success, including: Junior Paul Mathias, senior Matt Hewankorn, sophomore James Maestas, senior James Knapp, freshman Jarod Tanner, sophomore John Emery Steele, junior Nate Drennan, senior Arley Grand Champ, junior Kris Mahkuk, sophomore George Rider, and junior Kyle Stensgar.

"Expect more from this team next year," says Hansen. "Good luck to the seniors."