Rollins - Semifinal Press Conference Quotes
General Thoughts
Head Coach Glenn Wilkes Jr.: Well I thought we got off to a rough start there but we made it a ball game, and like I said last night we are not an easy out. We managed to dig ourselves a pretty good hole, got back in it and made it a ball game. But we lost to a good ball club.
Q for Sarah Taylor: What was the driving force in bringing you guys back in the game?
Taylor: I think it was a matter of determination and not going out like, “who wants to lose by 20?” My main focus was, I don’t want to lose, of course. But, chipping away, chipping away, chipping away… and then just slowly getting everyone on the same page… focus, energy, determination. We kept chipping away, it just didn’t happen in the end, but we were there.
Q: What happened towards the end that let NSU hold you off?
Wilkes: We were down five and lost a handle on a defensive rebound and they kicked it out and knocked down a three, that hurt. We went down and missed a gimme, and they knocked down another three. In two possessions we had it five and then, bam bam, they had it at 12. They shot 41 percent from the three-point line, it’s hard to beat a club when they are shooting like that. That’s what makes Nova good, and particularly good at home. They are a shooting club and they have a good shooting team. We were just trying to crawl back and make it a five minute game. They hit a couple big shots on us and the next thing you know, you’re down 12.
Last time we came here we got down 19 or 20 and worked our way back in the ball game. They come out of the gate just tough, they come out and deny everything. They play such ferocious defense the first 10 minutes of the game. Then they wear down a little bit and we start to adjust and attack better. But they come at you, and they are a veteran club too. These teams that get this far, you have to have some seniors, good seniors.
Q for Ashley Jones: What was your mindset coming out of halftime?
Jones: Well, I think for me personally I was just positive. I think that every shot I shoot is going to go in. Sometimes it doesn’t, but I think Sarah thinks the same thing to and most of our teammates too. Every time I’ve played Nova since I came to Rollins they’ve been up by 20. Last year we came back and hit some three’s. But they are really a first half team and we are a second half team. I think what really hurt us is that I think we wanted it more, but we were kind of outmatched. From every single person who played out there, they were killing us on the boards, they were killing us for the loose balls. I remember there were a couple of jump balls where we were both sprinting too it and she just beat me too it.
Taylor: My mentality was… Whenever I’m down by one, two, 20, 12, 50, I’m not giving up because, a team that gives up shows they have no heart, you have no character. What are you going to do when the going gets tough, are you going to quit? God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers. Tonight, we didn’t come out on the top end. But in the end, if you don’t give up and you give your all it’s a true test of your character.
Jones: Basketball is a game of 40 minutes, but life doesn’t end in 40 minutes. If you keep that work ethic you’ll be victorious in what you do.
