We never matched their intensity level. We weren't able to come out of our timeouts and raise our energy level. We just never responded.

The idea that the brand essence can come from anywhere brought a lot of energy to us. It made advertising a practice, not the be-all and end-all, and it gave credibility to our strategic planning people as more than tacticians.

We had some signature wins against some traditionally strong programs like Tensas and Riverdale. It wasn't a one-game season, but this was the most important game of the season. It was a disappointing way to end it.

She's a very mature kid. She was playing eighth-grade ball in the fourth grade. She's always played up. She's a good player and a great kid. She's our best shooter, and they did a good job of taking her out of it. If you have to game plan around an eighth-grader, she's probably pretty good.

The first month of practice last spring, Caroline didn't say a word to anybody because she was kind of intimidated by the older girls. Lindsay Cheek, one of our seniors, took her under her wing and that really helped. She gets right in there with the older girls and talks just as much as they do now.

I don't know if we actually showed up, to tell you the truth. All they did was guard our point guard, and some of our kids didn't respond. But I'm proud of them. We've come a long way from last season. They only won three games last season.