With their first extended break in between games since Christmas, the Pella Christian boys basketball team is focusing on staying sharp ahead of their trip to the State Tournament.

The Eagles, who have nine days between their Substate and First Round State Tournament games, will use the down time to improve and refocus according to head coach J.D. Boer.

“Thankfully, we’ll have a little bit of time, you know, to just kind of have the weekend here and get these guys some rest. You know, and you kind of lean on some people who have been there before. We certainly have some coaching staff who has been there before and we were there last year, and I think it’s really important that you get to practice, and you say how can we get better? You know, we don’t just say, this is who we are, you go, ok, what can we learn from, what can we do? And certainly, there are some moments. We get another week of practice, like that’s a really critical time for us to improve. And I feel like every time we’ve had that opportunity, we’ve responded and been able to do it. So, that’ll be kind of our focus.”

Pella Christian senior Aiden Stoltz added that being ready to go for Monday night’s game begins in the week leading up to the game.

“It starts in practice. Playing and practicing full speed, going hard during practices, but then once we’re out of practice take a load off and just be smart and get rest and drink plenty of fluids.”

Hear more from Stoltz, as well as junior Dane Geetings on this week’s Radio Sports Page on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m. The fourth-seeded Eagles square off with fifth-seeded MFL MarMac at Wells Fargo Arena Monday, March 6th at 7:15 p.m.