Jeff Ackermann
Jeff Ackermann
anyone game guards lead offense plan played pressure ran size stuff took
We went into the game with the plan to pressure their guards as much as anyone we played all year. We did that, and then on offense, our size took over. We got an eight-point lead and got into our half-court stuff and ran our offense through our big guys.
battle fight game hampton happy kids knew needed tough whatever
I was happy to be up 12 points. But, you know and I know that Hampton wasn't going to go away. Everyone knew they were going to battle back and be there at the end. They have tough kids and you knew they were going to fight back and do whatever they needed to do to be in that game at the end.
confident defense definitely drive expected experience game guys kids might mind paid situation team took
I expected them to drive to the hoop. I think it might have been one of those instances where they were young kids and they have not been here before and they tensed up a little and took those 3-pointers. But, you look at that team and they are so well coached. My guys didn't mind being on defense at the end and I think they were confident and comfortable because they had been in that situation before. The experience of being in the championship game before definitely paid off for us.
count game hand kids number teams truly
I told the kids before the game that when you can count on one hand the number of teams that have done something, then you know you are truly approaching greatness.
best ease fine game guys knew press wear
We knew they were big and they had a lot of girth to them, so we wanted to try to wear them out the best we could. Our guys knew we were going to press the whole game, we weren't going to ease up and, if they scored on it, we were fine with that because we wanted to get an up-tempo game as much as we could.
advantage bench furthest game gold guys medals
You look at them (Laurel Highlands) and I think this may be the furthest they've gone. I look up and down my bench and see a lot of guys who have had gold medals around their necks. That's a big advantage in a game like this.
effort game goals guys played ready season ups
This game was our season in a nutshell. Ups and downs, ups and downs. It's another down for us, but my guys played hard. The effort was there. If you set your goals high, you have to be ready for disappointment.
game played tremendous
Keir Jeter played a tremendous game tonight. He was awesome.
biggest game margin played victory
The game with our biggest margin of victory was the championship game. Once we got back, they played without pressure.
ball happy picked pressure quarter second
We weren't happy being up two at halftime. I wasn't happy with our ball pressure in the first quarter and I really wanted them to pressure the ball and, in the second half, they picked it up.
count paper reading schools truly
We were reading the paper and it was naming the schools that have done it. I told the guys, 'When you can count them on one hand, you know you're truly approaching greatness.
brian chance division good terrific
Brian Walsh is a very, very good player. He has a chance to be (an NCAA) Division I player. He has terrific skills.
best division glad jumps mark plus shoot sophomore tremendous true
(Brian's) the best sophomore I've ever coached. He's got tremendous skills. He has true mark of a Division I player. He can do things that you can't coach. He jumps out of the gym, he can shoot and handle, plus he's long and athletic. I'm glad I have him for two more years.
defensive pushed
We rebounded well on the defensive end and we pushed the ball.