You know, I thought it was a good win for us in State Games. You know, as I've said before, records go out the windows stack go up stats go out the window. It's just it's, it's bigger than all of that. And you know, we've we've been on the other end of it and we understand just, you know, the focus and the intensity that you need to bring, and I thought it was really good for us to be able to go so deep into our bench today, I think, you know, that's probably when we're at our best when we get some rotations and able to give some of our players some rest and so I just felt like it was a good team win. Certainly areas that we need to continue to get better at that in the first half. We did a great job taking care of the ball, that we did a good job eliminating their second shot opportunities. In the second half, you know, just some possessions or stretches that we've just got to be better add defensively. But still waiting to put together that 40 minute game of just just really tough, gritty defense. And you know, our players know it. We're working on it in practice, we watch film. We continue to talk about it, but some really good performances, individually really, really happy for Mama. It's been really cool to just see her blossom and grow and for her to, you know, be at that point where she understands the impact that she has on this team in so many ways bigger than scoring just with her demeanor with her leadership. I think she feels very comfortable with her voice this year, and has just been fantastic for us and want to leave her in there at the end. Rebounding is a little bit harder to control and so that's probably why she played a few more extended minutes but you know, just talks about the character she has, you know, I just said you're so close. You want me to keep an eye out and she said, I don't care about things like that in as a coaching staff. We said well, we do. We're excited for you, but proud of proud of her growth. I thought Biden had a great game for us. It's good to see her get back into rhythm. But overall, I just I just felt like it was a good good team effort. Good. Good team when we know we got a big one coming up. Questions.
What went into your performance tonight?
Um, I don't really know. I mean, I did the exact same thing that I always do when it was a lollipop the average height of me
I don't really think I did anything different. I just came in with confidence and just wanting to help the team and that's how we came out. So
Abby, you had a season had 13 points. What was working well for you on offense? Yeah, I
think like Coach said we all were kind of moving the ball and when a lot of people score a lot and mama always throws great passes. So I think I was just on the receiving end of a lot of those. And then we just worked well together as a team and I was able to score a few points out of that. But overall I think it was a team effort.
Really for Abby, she was playing at a really high level, playing really strong really at a high level and then went through that injury early and you know that kind of set her back a little bit but you know, what we saw tonight is something that we get a chance to see a lot of times in practice and it's I think so important that we get her back in rhythm and back into a groove because she's a key piece to this team.
Everyone knew that efficient from before six to eight. What does that do for not just yourself but for other players on offense?
I think it definitely brings up my confidence, obviously, but then, you know, if I'm drawing attention that opens up my other teammates, as well.
As coach, was there an emphasis on getting Abby as well as Haley a lot of posts message tonight or is that something that just kind of happened in the flow of the game?
I think through the flow of our offense, you know, when we feel like there's opportunities to get so many mismatches down low. You know, we want to make sure we're alert and aware and capitalize on those opportunities. Coach
defensively, what do you make of the performance, just in general and on
average, not at the level it needs to be and again, there's some really good possessions for sure. And I just I think there's so much more yet in us and you know, to be able to play for 40 minutes with that kind of grittiness and toughness. I thought we had long stretches at Virginia. I thought we had some stretches against SEMO and then some stretches here. But we've got to continue to elevate it. We've got to continue to lean into it. They've got the ability to do it in we just got to have more discipline, more accountability in just the veteran some of our rotations and understanding personnel. So the good news is it's fixable. The good news is this is an incredible group that I get to go to work with every day and I know they embrace film and don't dread it but want to watch it and make adjustments and so we'll get there. I don't know exactly when but we're yet to play a 40 minute game of just stellar defense but when that happens and you couple that with their offense, I think we got a chance to do some pretty special things.
You talked about the communication piece with that, is that part of the rotations and kind of the back end of that defense? It's
just it's all part of it. I mean, just your communication who's a shooter who's a driver, are we switching? Are we not switching who's plugging a hole who's got help who's got transition on the weighing I mean it's just communication is a huge part of it. And so being willing to give commands and there's times that we are on point with it, it it's it looks really good but there's it's not a it's not a habit yet. You know when we've just got to continue to make those daily deposits those daily deposits that will add up with time. Coach
Chris man as I'm with KY three out of Springfield close to where Ashton's from had a few questions for you on her. Just wondering what has been key to her jump from her freshman to her sophomore year here.
Yeah, that's a really easy one for me. Work ethic. She's been a grinder, I can count on one, maybe two hands, the amount of days since the spring that she wasn't in the gym twice a day, every day. And I mean it flat out when you want something, you gotta go work for it and easy is never gonna get you there. And she's done exactly that and so she's, she's invested a lot on her craft. She's really, I think been intentional about her diet, about her recovery. You know, she's a fierce competitor. We've just got to make sure she stays out of her own way at times because you know, she's got this perfectionist trait that a lot of girls that are a team do, but we really try to emphasize progress over perfection. But short short answer is her work. She's put in a lot of work in the offseason. Now you
expected from her when you've recruited her in high school.
You know, we felt like she had a really high ceiling. You know, she's a strong guard, she can play with her back to the basket, but she's got the ability to stretch the court. We just felt like she had a really high ceiling. I didn't really have a timetable, but I think it's what you hope for when you recruit you know, players that really love the game that are passionate about it and that are willing to put in the work.
We're very familiar with Haley's work because she's from Stratford right next to us as well. Do you have a crystal ball because she and you laid a lot of things that hey, we DOIs and what do you think is the future for for Ashton?
Can Ashton emulate a lot of things?
I guess I should say, do you see similarities between them in terms of how they prepare and you know how she's growing right now?
Yeah, I mean, to a certain extent, I do. I think they're, you know, their own unique individuals and you know, they're, I don't know other personalities and are a little bit different. But I think both are very driven. Both have an incredible work ethic. Both love to compete, they don't shy away from the moment and so I think, you know, there's definitely some similarities, but also some special uniqueness is about the two. And I saw
Abby and Mama nodding their head when you were talking there. I'd love to hear what you see as as her teammate has asked his teammates. When
I love to play with her, she always wants to win no matter what. And I feel like we both have that in us and it's just great to go out and compete with someone who wants as much as you want. So I would say it's Couchbase A's he works a lot and she always wants to improve like we always have side conversations of how she can be better for us and, and I think that's great. And I think all of us have it. That's why as a team like we have that work ethic and that gets us to the place that we're gonna get.
Yeah, like mama said, and Coach B. She's a worker and a competitor and that's really fun to play with. And she's been even more She's younger than me. She's been a great role model for me and just how she comes in and works every day and loves the game.
When you look at the differences between Ashe and where she was last year to where she is now. What are some of those specific differences offensively because I've noticed that mid range game that she has, it's kind of developed a little bit more since last year, is it more competence in
an area? Again, I think it just goes back to our work. I mean, when you're in the gym every day, twice a day, you know for several months. That's what you do you work on your craft you know it's not just getting out a gun and shooting no and she's going through hard hard workouts and and working out or three working out or transition three working on mid range working on back to the basket and so it's it's honestly it just comes down to that hours. And hours of being in the gym, trying to create off the bounce, you know, and in she there's still certain things that she's got to clean up for sure. But it is quite a big jump from last year to this year. And I think she's a fierce competitor and she is like all of them. It's about the front of their jersey for them and they all just want to embrace and figure out how we could elevate our program and, you know, they knew it wasn't gonna be easy, and they said, We got to get in and we got to work and that's exactly what they've done all summer long.
Mama, we were talking a lot about your offensive impact, deservedly so, but on the defensive ends, that's shown up three steals and you're just flying around everywhere. How are you able to make an impact on both sides, especially on that defensive end?
I feel like I have to send a tone on defense. Everyone looks up to me. So that's something that I really take pride on. On offense. I mean, I don't really care who scores I just want to help the team but I feel like probably like the energy that I get from defense is also getting me to the offensive side. So as I said during as much as I can to help my team but you know, I love to get those steals and they're just gonna be going.
Coach, what are some of the specific areas or areas you're looking to see improvement in in these last few games with a nonconference schedule?
Yeah, maintaining our defensive intensity under you know one on one accountability defensive rotations being assignment correct on our scout to the shooter who's a driver, communication on screening action. You know, in rebounding, not allowing those second and third shot opportunities
in your past seasons, how have you kind of seen, I guess this last stretch of nonconference play, kind of contribute and affect the mood for the rest of the season. Yeah,
I think every season is, you know, unique in its own way. And so I don't really get caught up in the comparison game. I think this team is honestly very, very unique. Probably. Well, I can, you know, you never want to shortchange any other team. But collectively as a group, extremely connected, extremely driven, and say their work ethic has been outstanding. Collectively, they've done more than what's required than any other group. I've probably coached at all my years. So it's been really fun to just see their work and how they show up every day. And to be honest with you, they set the standard, you know, and when it becomes a player led team, good things are gonna happen for you. And they hold each other accountable and they have tough Congress conversations and they challenge each other. They're not afraid to do that, but they also support each other and that's when it becomes really special.
Any more questions?
Coach? You had nine players score in the first half alone. Was that a point of emphasis getting everyone going so early?
Yeah, it was important. I mean, we knew that you know, we're probably a little fatigued we got to after quite a bit the other last two days in practice. And so I knew fatigue might be a factor. And I thought, you know, the more we can rotate early, I thought that would be to our benefit. But we also have players that are playing pretty well coming off the bench and, you know, just a minute and a half. There are two minutes here and I just think that's it's it's critical. To be able to maintain the level of play that we want to and how we want to run and transition. And so, you know, I feel like we're at our best when we go a little bit deeper into our bench versus played with a shorter shorter rotation. Right, thanks, guys. Appreciate it.
