Marty Barnes Quotations

The only way that you can receive an award such as this is if your team excels. And I don't think there's any question about this team and what it accomplished this year.

We?re showing signs of playing our best basketball as we?re approaching March. That?s where you want to be at.

Nobody wants the pack to separate too much and I'm sure that's what coach Nelson is emphasizing. They've got an opportunity to get a game back.

I am impressed with the team's attitude. They are confident, not cocky or overconfident. We are really focused.

Give a lot of credit to Springdale. They played hard and did what they had to do to try and have a chance to win it.

He has an uncanny sense of knowing where the opponent is trying to put the ball. And he's also got a great first step.

We may as well jump on (Moore?s) back. He?s carrying us and really playing steady basketball. He?s put together some back-to-back games offensively for us that are about as good as you can ask of a junior.

I also haven't moved anything on my desk. Nothing has been touched.

(Jonesboro's) pressure up front caused us to speed up too much and get involved in their game. When you lose that many trips, that adds up. We also got two starters in foul trouble and that added to the dilemma. .

Our kids never panicked going into the final quarter. We were able to come back because of our defense.

Our team?s focus has been pretty good (during the conference season). They?re keeping things in perspective.

Really you don't want to reflect too much on either the wins or the losses after they happen. At the next practice you have to start getting ready for the next opponent.

That was a huge steal by Kyle to set all that up.

We played exceptionally well that game and that's where I got the first clue that this could be something special. A lot of people were doubting whether this team would be any different than any of the other Rogers teams of the past and I think we answered that.

We established momentum right off the bat. We were a lot crisper on offense and a lot better with our shot selection. Jonathan Moore had one of his better games all-around tonight.

We must make good decisions with the ball and limit unforced turnovers. Rebounding will be key on both ends of the floor.

We need his rebounding and those five or six points around the basket.

We play such great defense, our kids take pride in it. Defense is what wins for us.

We actually widened our margin with Kane on the bench and that's a big indicator of some players wanting to step up.

We'll take a back seat and see what happens around the league. It'll be nice to watch these other guys sweat it.

We?re trying to keep the heat on. It should be a high intensity game I would think.

There have been some miraculous comebacks. The kids have done everything right.

We were taking steps before but this is a leap right now. We're looking pretty good (to reach the playoffs). I like my chances right now.

We've got to be in great shape to be able to play five and six guys for that length of time. Our kids are in great shape. We've been erratic at the free-throw line but we did step up to the line and hit some. The first thing to go if you're tired is going to be your legs. If those goes then those free throws are going to be pretty hard to make.

Both teams played great defense tonight. This team only had 24 hours to prepare for this game and they played their hearts out.

We need to show we can go on the road and play like this. I'll take this one don't get me wrong, but we need to go on the road and show a little toughness. And it'll take some toughness at Van Buren.

We missed some shots around the basket we would like to have back. But the defense held together.

We will tweak some things and shuffle things offensively. Defensively, the injury isn't as much as a concern because we have some kids that can play the four spot.

We got some fair looks right around the basket and couldn't convert them. (Jonesboro) completely made us get out of our game and rush things around.

We are trying to start a new tradition. (Rogers) has a lot of confidence about themselves or else the team would have folded.

Van Buren will have three good practices to prepare for us. We will be tired Wednesday and will only have a breakdown practice to get ready for Van Buren.

Van Buren is notably one of the harder places to go and play. But we need to play well on the road.

We didn't panic and got some quick baskets and then solidified (the lead) with rebounding. This was a good gut check for us. This could be a big game, to let us know that we can come back and perform under pressure and execute.

Everybody (in Rolla) was cheering for us in the tournament finals but nobody really gave us a chance to beat that team. After that I was feeling very good about our chemistry. We were starting to get some point production from several people and that was going to be critical.

They all pass well, they all put it on the floor well, they can shoot it and they have the power game inside. The emphasis is on team. And that?s not taking anything away from their individuals because they have some great players, but they play so well as a unit with 10 people.

The success of this team is what drives Jacob. We will have all-state and all-conference players and when we look back, we will all know that Blake Jacobs has been very valuable for us.

A fanatical finish. That was the shot in the arm that we could actually go for '57.

Defense was carrying us. We were making mental mistakes, forcing some things and missing some shots around the basket, but our defense held together.

Anytime I really got upset I'd write the number 57 on the board in big letters. Or I'd use it for motivation after games where we played well.

That took a great effort on his part to know where that (missed) ball was going. To then go get it and have the presence of mind to kick it back to Jonathan was a great play on his part.

They (Van Buren) are in kind of in a do-or-die situation. They probably feel like they need to win out to get to the playoffs.

At first he seems like one of those laid-back, type-B personalities but that's just a disguise. Underneath he's a competitor that wants to win and do whatever it takes to win.

It's a great night for Rogers to honor a group of guys that have helped take the program to another level. They've laid a foundation necessary to reach this year's goals and the goals in the future.

It's a pretty hard place to play. But, we're attempting to change a lot of things about Rogers basketball. We've won two big (conference) games on the road now and we're ready to go.

Considering we don't have an exceptionally deep bench, I thought we looked pretty fresh tonight. Right now our quality of play is good and because it is, we're able to win.

I've had some great players, and I hate to compare players from different eras that have played for me. But I don't think there's too many players with a better combination of character, academics and athletics than Kane. He is a great one.

It was a deep cut. He got the gash over his eye going for a defensive rebound.

After this week, the whole conference playoff picture could be settled.

I'm kind of in shock; I don't know what to say. By far, the biggest win of the year. To talk about taking the big step to Little Rock, we took a big step tonight. These kids want to go to that state tournament.

I?m not too good at math but I think (the win) pretty much guarantees us going to state. That?s the only good thing I see from tonight other than the win.

His biggest improvement this season has been his judgment with the basketball. He's not forcing passes or the offense.

I don't think I have ever seen him jump that high before.

I don't think there is any advantage of playing them a second time. Fayetteville is a hard place to play for any team.

He can cause us some problems on the defensive end of the floor. I?m not surprised with his last two games. He can shoot, he can penetrate and he can create his own shot.

For the first time this year, our interior defense broke down. That's an indication that you are a little shook. You quit doing things that got you there.

These guys, I?m not kidding ? they?re really focused. They?re not just happy about making the tournament. They actually want to play for this (conference) championship.

This hasn't been one of the kindest places for us but I thought we kept our composure. I think it was important for us to come in here and get a road win against a team that's trying to get the fourth seed. I think the magic number to get to the state tournament is nine and that is one of our goals.

The Classic shapes up to be even more competitive than last year. Hall, Mills and Central will feature some of the best players from Pulaski County.