I've been on the phone for the past two days with just about every team in the area trying to line up a game and I haven't had any luck. We just need to play some games. We don't need any more open dates.

I got to know him better after his diagnosis, and the way he carried himself during that time said a lot about his character. Through it all, he had an upbeat attitude.

We faxed the application to about 12 other (state high school) associations, and Florida was one that posted it.

We'll begin the screening process on Monday. Our timetable is to have someone by around mid-March to the first of April, but we hope we can have someone a little earlier than that, possibly in time for the March school board meeting.

I've already lost two slots from past cuts. We can't afford to lay anyone off and be efficient. We have nowhere left to cut.

They didn't want to be the team that didn't go unbeaten in the area and they didn't want to be the team that didn't host the area tournament.