We have smaller defensive ends, but they're quick. They'll be OK. Everybody knows their job, and our defense is better this year. If we play better in the second half of the game this year, we'll do better.

Even so, I really like the leadership we're getting this spring. But we have to improve our overall team defense, and we need more timely hits.

We didn't have good help defense. You can't guard Haley one-on-one without some help from your teammates . . . Haley in the open court, I think she's the best player in the state.

We start off with defense. That creates offense. It's a tough group of kids. We got after it tonight. It was fun to watch them. One thing you can count on with this group is they play hard.

You don't cut somebody up, bag them ... dump them in the bay when you act in self-defense. It just doesn't happen. You can't plan to have an accident. You can't plan to act in self-defense. That's the evidence in this case.

I think we will be as strong if not stronger than we were last season. Our defense is definitely stronger but our offensive output is the main question for us.