SULPHUR — The Lady Tors played some defense early and late in a 59-46 nondistrict win over Natchitoches Central Tuesday night.

Sulphur (5-1) opened the game with an 11-2 run and went on a 10-0 run in the second half to put the game away after the Chiefs pulled within two.

Natchitoches Central (3-2) was held scoreless for the first 4:30 of the fourth quarter as the Tors stretched their lead from six to 12 points. Taylee Kuykendall led Sulphur with 17 points. Lauren Pace and Cierra Wilson scored 16 each.

The Chiefs scored on two of their first 10 possessions. Sulphur scored on four straight during that stretch to take a 13-4 lead.

“We were mixing it up, one trip down we would be in a zone, next trip down we’d be in man,” said Tors head coach Helen LeFevre. “We were just trying to keep them off balance because we knew what kind of player (Princess Cohen) was and that (Julie Williams) could shoot the lights out.”

Kuykendall scored eight points in the second quarter, which Sulphur ended with a 7-2 run to take a 30-19 halftime lead.

Cohen scored 21 to lead Natchitoches Central, including nine straight in the third quarter to trim the Tors lead to four. A 3-point basket by Williams pulled the Chiefs within two later in the quarter, but Sulphur scored the next 10 to put the game out of reach.

“I think our kids showed a lot of poise to stay in it until the end and do the things we asked them to do,” LeFevre said. “We spread the floor out on the offensive side and went inside, let the post players (Wilson and Pace) go one-on-one. We were able to convert a few baskets, that was huge for us. Anytime you beat Natchitoches Central, it is a good win. It is a big step forward for our program.”(Kirk Meche/Special to the American Press)

Kirk Meche