The Alton Redbirds were being watched closely by head coach Abram Henson in Thursday night’s Mississippi Valley Club Association game against Belleville.

And for the record, the Redbirds passed the examination with an 8-2 victory at the Granite City Ice Rink.

“We switched some things around tonight,” Henson said. “We needed to try and shake some things up after that loss in our last game.”

That last-game loss was an 8-0 defeat at the hands Class 2A North Division rival Edwardsville last week. Henson, the Redbirds’ first-year coach, was anxious to see how his team would react following that loss.

“We sure played a lot better tonight than we did the other night,” Henson said. “We made some changes and I think our guys responded very well.”

On of the changes was moving Jordan Myer from defense to forward. He responded with a goal in the third period.

“He played a strong game,” Henson said of Myer. “I think our guys came back from that loss and showed they were ready to learn, put it behind us and move forward.”

The Redbirds, who ran their record on the season to 10-3, outshot Belleville 29-14.

Alton held a 2-0 lead after the first period. Four different players scored for Alton.

“We got off to a strong start early,” Henson said. “That was good to see.”

Scotty Waldrup gave the Redbirds a 1-0 lead at the 12:04 mark of the first period off an assist from Jake Bohn.

Jake Cunningham’s goal at 5:53, assisted by Alex Rubin and Kain Henson, made it 2-0 after the first period.

“Our passing, our skating, backchecking and forechecking were all much better tonight,” Abram Henson said. “(Goalie)