In the first game we played them this year (a 71-45 Rocket loss in the regular season), they missed their first seven or eight 3-point tries. That's the gamble against Worthington Christian. When they are on, they are on, and they didn't miss too many tonight.
That's the way basketball is sometimes. They hit shots and we didn't hit shots. Sometimes basketball is that simple.
We'll have to handle their pressure and play with the same intensity on defense as we did on Saturday night. If we can beat their pressure, we do have a size advantage in several positions. But we have to attack the basket.
I was worried about our intensity tonight. We were coming off the big win Tuesday over Elgin and I was hoping we did not come out flat.
I was a little worried coming in that we could be anywhere from three to six. Fourth is probably where we should be.
We played another good game on defense. That's been a big turnaround for this team. This is probably the best defensive team I've had here.
It was important that we came out and got the first couple of baskets to start the second half. We got a few breaks and the ball went our way and we got some easy baskets.
We feel we have an advantage in close games. We won five or six other ones like that this year. The kids don't panic, and we hung in there in this game.
The number one goal is still being league champ. We will worry about the tournament when we get there.
We defended and rebounded well, but tonight it came down to free throw shooting and our kids stepped up and made them.
