Keisha Brown Quotes (25 Quotes)

We came in here tonight with a goal, and that was to play Irish basketball. We knew it was going to be a challenge, but these kids came out and laid it all out on the line. We as a coaching staff are very proud of their effort.

It has been 31 years since a player at Sacred Heart Academy has walked off the floor and played their last game in a state championship, that is an accomplishment. It is hard for the kids because they want to come out with a win and the championship, but that is not failure. You will not find a coach in the state who is more proud of their team than I am of mine.

We knew Western Michigan Christian would come out strong and they did, but our guys just kept their focus. We kept our cool and did what we needed to do, and that was play our style of basketball.

When you talk about championship basketball, it is not about the skill, it is about the will. It's about being determined, and these kids are determined.

We are a good team, but we are not a cocky team. We know going into every game that we need to play our best, and tonight the kids came out and did a good job of executing the game plan.

All of our seniors are going to play big roles for us. They have been big all year with their leadership and how they have stepped up.

Jacob has always been very big for us on defense but offensively he sometimes needs to shoot the ball more. There are times when he'll pass up wide-open shots and give them to Caleb (Simons) or Pat (Theisen). He's almost too unselfish.

I think people forget about his ability to go to the basket. He's also an emotional player and can really come in and give us a spark.

The honor for me is that these boys allowed me to coach them. These 12 boys allowed this female to coach them. That is what everyone is missing. The honor is being able to see these kids get to a championship game, not to be the first woman to get here.

It's something you can't put in words. You really can't say how much that would mean for us. To share that with this group of kids would be amazing - that word has been said a lot lately around here, it really would be one great moment in time.

When Chris gets on fire from the outside, watch out

I can tell you right now that I am still hungry for another chance at this. And I know I can't wait 31 years to eat again.

I know that I would hate to have Nate guarding me. He is an active and intense player, and I know if I tell him that this player doesn't need to touch the ball, that Nate will do all he can to make sure that it doesn't happen.

I'd hate to be Caleb's teammate next year. Because he is going to ride his teammates and work so hard to get back here. He got a taste of this and you can tell he wants more.

There is always a concern going into every game. There was concern coming into tonight's game, and there will be concern going into Friday's game. You can always find something to work on, and these kids know they need to continue to get better if they want to win.

It was never a concern for me. It never excited me. I just look at myself as another basketball coach. Being an African American coaching a Caucasian team means nothing.

We have five guys that all contribute. Each night, someone different is leading us in scoring. That is what makes us tough. It is hard to guard five players, but it is very easy to guard just one or two.

It should be inspiring, especially for young girls in society today, because they are so suppressed in the sports arena.

We are not going to underestimate Crossroads because they beat a tough Marion team to get where they are. We just need to continue to work hard and play to the level we did tonight.

They got us started. They put this team on their back and carried us last year. It is unfortunate that they never got a chance to play at the Breslin because they deserved it. The time just wasn't right, but the time is right now, and these two guys are still a part of this team and still continue to be leaders.

We were able to use our rotation as best we could tonight and give everyone a chance to get some good playing time. This was a good experience for a lot of our guys tonight.

We came in with the goal to play Irish basketball. We played good defense, had minimal turnovers (13) and we hustled.

It's going to be hard for me because I have had the opportunity to work with six wonderful kids. They have all taught me something about life and to just watch them grow and develop is amazing. I am excited for their future. So tomorrow, I am glad to be in the state championship with them, but it will be hard to see them move on.

Nate could be a superstar for a lot of teams if he wasn't playing for us at Sacred Heart. He is a real total package. But he, like all the other players on this team, sacrifice personal success for the greater good of the team. They don't just say they will play like a team, they actually go out and do it.

Our kids are used to being banged-around. We work them hard in practice and get them prepared to be able to handle physical play. Certainly you don't want to see anyone get hurt, but these kids have been through it all before.