It will be the Tors vs. the Tors on Friday night but the mascot is where the similarities stop for the No. 4 Sulphur Tors and the No. 5 Hammond Tors.
While the Tors sport a starting lineup with four players over 6’3”, Hammond will be similar to the Tors opening round playoff opponent in South Lafourche. Hammond’s starting lineup ranges from 5’8” to 6’3” but the Tors make up for their lack of height with speed and controlling the tempo of the game.
“We love to play fast,” Hammond head coach Brent Grigas said. “We like to get up and down.
“It is going to be an interesting game of total opposites. Sulphur is huge and we are a bunch of guards.”
Hammond is in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season and is on a 17-game winning streak.
Grigas hopes that controlling the tempo of the game will take away Sulphur’s height advantage.
“We are going to have to get shots in transition,” Grigas said. “We are going to have to dictate the tempo. We feel like if we can get a lead they will have to come out and guard. Now if we get down we are in trouble because they (Sulphur) will be able to dictate it. They (Sulphur) like to control the tempo a little more and slow it down. Now they can score. They have some great shooters. It is going to be fun but it is going to be hard to create a game plan for them.”
In his first year at the helm of Hammond Tors, Grigas has guided the them to a 28-3 record but he makes sure to point out that the players are the main reason behind that..
“I was real fortunate to fall into some talent,” Grigas said. “It makes it a lot easier when you have good players.
“They have bought into the system. The kids get all the credit. They execute and they have been very consistent and unselfish. They are not concerned with who the leading scorer is and who is getting the shots. We have done a good job of getting the open looks throughout the year.”
Hammond is coming of a 101-77 win over Southwood, which is where Grigas was an assistant last season. Hammond is averaging 71.5 points per game.
That unselfish play has led to five players averaging over eight points per game for Hammond with junior small forward Mark Bridgewater leading the way with 16.4ppg. Junior guard Mikel Henry averages 13.8ppg and senior forward Kylan Douglas is putting up 12ppg.
Grigas compared the Sulphur Tors to Class 3A No. 2 Plaquemine.
“We played a team similar to them earlier in the year,” Grigas said. “Plaquemine is real huge.
“Sulphur is one of the biggest high school teams that I have seen in a while. We are going to have to work on some things especially boxing out.”
Note: Game time has been changed to 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.
