Quotes by Chris Rider

“(Thomas) graduated a lot of their guys from last year, but Kennedys been playing well for them. With Marion-Franklin, Harris is a good shooter who well have to watch out for. We feel pretty comfortable with the (defense).”

“Hopefully (the loss to the Red Devils) will somehow help us out in the long run. Coffman is a good team and weve had some battles with them the last couple years. Theyve been playing real well and they havent had Robby Gardiner.”

“Were pretty happy. Were 5-2, weve already played five games on the road and were 2-0 in the OCC. Were in good shape.”

“Jordan came through with a lot of rebounds (against Westland) and Chris Ricks, for being a young 15-year-old guy, plays like a heck of a man.”

“Weve watched them a couple times and regardless of whether theyre the same team or not, were probably not going to beat them by 37 again. We were on that night and we know well have to play hard.”

“We played them once before just like we played Independence. We have to be focused because we cant take anything for granted. Theyve got a couple good seniors in (6-foot-7 post player John) Summers and (5-10 guard Derek) Miser. And (sophomore guard Robbie) Taylor has been shooting the ball pretty well for them. Well have to be ready.”

“I think our guys really adapted well in the third quarter. We knew wed beaten Independence pretty badly the first game, and we knew that wouldnt be the case this time. Over the next two weeks, the team that usually adjusts will be the team that wins.”

“They went with a little bigger lineup than usual and once we got in our transition game it was a little too much for them.”

“First and foremost, every game gets a little rougher from here on out. Weve got to be ready to go.”

“Our defensive pressure set the tone for the whole day. We believe in the saying that defense wins championships. At this level, it?s not going be a game where both teams are running it up and down the floor. It?s usually grind-it-out basketball.”