Meskwaki’s Tate Bear (5) drives in for a floater over Clarksville’s Ben Waetjen (21) during the first half of Tuesday night’s game. Bear had a career-high 34 points in the Warriors 57-41. TR Photo/Stephen Koenigsfeld

MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT – When the Clarksville boys started slowing down, fatiguing and missing shots, Meskwaki’s Tate Bear refused to follow suit. What transpired was a career-high night for the sophomore, as Bear put up 34 points in the Warriors’ 57-41 win.

In the second half alone, Bear scored 21 points against Clarksville’s (1-7, 0-6 Iowa Star) opposition. But those figures didn’t come easy. Leading marginally 27-22 at halftime – after the Warriors (3-5, 2-5 Iowa Star) posted 19 points in the second quarter to reclaim the lead – the Indians came out firing, making it 29-27 and 31-29 consecutively in the first handful of minutes. But Bear picked right back up where he left off in the first half, scoring the first six points for his team in the second stanza.

With an injury to Jared Davenport on Monday night against AGWSR, it was Bear’s chance to step up and make something happen for the Meskwaki offense.

“We like to spread [the offense] around a little bit, but for him, he put everything on him,” said Meskwaki head coach Dina Keahna. “Jerry twisted his ankle the other night, so [Bear’s opportunity] was out there, and it put the glue back together for the team. If we can get the ball to Tate and he can do what he needs to do close to the rim – which is where I’d rather have him be – he’s much more effective and productive for us.”

Keahna said she didn’t expect Davenport to be out for more than a week, and with winter break now in full effect, the Warriors’ head coach believes he’ll take fine care of himself during the holiday vacation.

Bear’s performance wasn’t just all about the young star, however. While he managed to continuously drive inside throughout the evening, drawing fouls and still managing to come up with a handful of three-point plays, it opened up opportunities for teammates Jarius Bear, who tallied 11 points, and Emmett Roberts, who had six.

The trick, now, for the Warriors, is to carry the confidence through winter break and into their home opener in the second half of the season against Colo-NESCO.

“It sets a better feel about their play,” Keahna said. “With the losing streak we were on, it kind of defeated them. So now, this brings them up and they’ll think more confidently.”

There’s no secret in how aggressive the Warriors play the game, crashing the boards relentlessly, trying to earn as many chances to shoot the ball on offense, while also rebounding missed shots, dribbling back out to the top of the key and trying it all over again.

The Warriors are preaching a ‘rebuilding’ identity this year, and players are starting to buy into that idea, Keahna said.

The message to the team isn’t necessarily about how many points the Warriors can score, or who can post career-high numbers each night. It’s about utilizing the strengths and skills sets of all five players on the court to achieve a high-level type of fundamental play in order to be competitive.

“This year, our pace of play has changed because we had 68 percent of our team leave in graduation,” Keahna said. “It becomes this rebuilding work. The boys coined it the best: Meskwaki basketball is under construction. And that’s something we’re trying to get everyone flowing together on.”

Meskwaki returns home on Jan. 3 to host Colo-NESCO in its seventh home game of the season. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m.