RODRICK ANDERSON
Sports Editor
SULPHUR–One thing is for sure when No. 4 Sulphur travels to face No. 5 Hammond today at 6 p.m. in the Class 5A quarterfinal playoff round, the Tors will win. The question is which one, the Sulphur Golden Tornadoes or the Hammond Tornadoes.
"I hope it is the good guys," Sulphur head coach Clint LeBato said. "Our guys know what to expect.
"They (Sulphur) are ready for the challenge and it is going to be a big one. They (Hammond) are obviously pretty good with only three losses. I know we have played good teams all year and that has definitely prepared us for this game Friday."
The Tors (30-5) are making their first appearance in the quarterfinals since the 2003-2004 season and are on an 18-game winning streak.
The key for the Golden Tors will be slow down a Hammond (28-3) team that is averaging over 70 points per game but defense has been Sulphur's mainstay this season. LeBato compared Hammond to the Westgate Tigers who Sulphur beat 72-64 in New Iberia on January 5th.
"They are going to be a little more like Westgate," LeBato said. "They are going to be up-tempo and put pressure on us.
"They are going to do all they can to make it a fast game like Westgate and we are going to have to handle the pressure."
The key on defense for the Golden Tors will be to contain point guard Dominick McCoy (9.8ppg, 6.8apg, 4.2rpg, 3.6spg) and small forward Mark Bridgewater (16.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.7spg).
"I know their point guard is the key." LeBato said. "McCoy is the one that makes them go.
"A lot of people say he is the best point guard they have seen all year. Bridgewater is big and strong and can shoot it. We are going to have to do a good job of guarding him. We are going to have to a good job on transition defense."
Sulphur is coming off a 33-28 win over district rival LaGrange in the regional round that tested their ability to rally late in the game.
"LaGrange put a lot of pressure on us which is going to prepare us for the next game," LeBato said. "You don't see that kind of pressure in practice.
"It is definitely going to help us for Friday. We have been through a lot in the last three or four years. I thought Tuesday night against LaGrange experience came through. Our guys never folded and we finally came out on top."
Leading the Tors through the first two rounds of the playoffs have been senior guards Matt LeBato and Chip Armelin and junior forward Donovan Williams. Armelin leads Sulphur in scoring with 16ppg in two playoff games to go with five rebounds per game. LeBato is scoring 15ppg along with 6.5rpg and two blocks per game, while Williams is averaging 6.5ppg, 4.5rpg and four blocks per game.
But Sulphur will have to avoid turning the ball over against Hammond after committing 14 turnovers against the Gators.
"They key is if we handle the basketball,” LeBato said. “That is were they (Hammond) get their points.
“If we turn it over they are going to get transition points."
LeBato doesn't feel that playing on the road will be a problem for Sulphur as they have played 22 of their 35 games away from home while posting a 17-5 record on the road.
"Playing on the road is going to keep their attention," LeBato said. "They know it is going to be tough but we have played well on the road this year.
"I don't think that it will be factor. It is going to be a good atmosphere."
Note: Game time is 6 p.m. on Friday at Hammond High School (45168 River Road, Hammond, LA). Admission will be $6 and the gates will open at 5 p.m. You must pay to reenter.
Sulphur, La. —
