You just accept the fact that you're going into Hinkle and you're going to have to fight for your life two games in a row on the same day.

I think this is the hardest day of basketball in the nation. We're expected to play two teams that are well coached, two teams that are very good, in the same day with what, three to four hours rest? To get through today was a major obstacle course.

It's history in the making, but we still have one more game.

We avoid it because we don't talk about it. We just go game to game and keep ourselves enthralled with the present, not with what could be or what was.

That's a lot of points. I'm sure teams they've played have tried to slow them down and couldn't. We have to turn the game into one where we rebound it, and they can't fast break. But we're a running team, too, so it'll be an interesting outcome. The rebounds will make the difference.

Last year, we had (Brandon) McPherson and Donald (Cloutier) and Tyler (Morris). The year before we had Penny and Stefan Routt. These are guys that were awfully good basketball players. When you think of the Marion teams (that won three straight state titles in the '80s), it was all the same kids. They didn't have to make all the adjustments (from year to year).

When you're goal-oriented, and you've got direction, that's what gets you up early in the morning, even if it's snowy and cold. That gets you working after practice. That gets you working on things you looked bad at in the last game.

They'll have to step up their roles, as to how they fit in. I think Q. and Damian will lead them, and they'll know how to win. They certainly haven't lost much, and they know what it takes to win.

Q. started out winning his position because of his defense and his ability to take care of the ball. His passing has really added to the team's strength, and he just plays very hard. I think Q.'s hard play and his toughness of mind has rubbed off on many of the other players, and he's been a very good attribute for the team.