Ellender basketball continues to roar

At most basketball programs around the state of Louisiana, winning the district championship or even just making the playoffs at all is the benchmark that defines a successful season.

But at Ellender Memorial, the bar is set a little bit higher.

At that program, tradition yields that merely getting to the playoffs isn’t the gold standard, but winning once you’re there is what matters most.

That’s exactly what the Patriots have in mind in the 2015-16 season.

As always, the Patriots are a local wrecking ball in prep basketball – easily one of the best teams in the Houma-Thibodaux area and also one of the top teams in Louisiana for Class 4A.

Ellender coach Cornell Scott said he likes his team so much that he doesn’t shy away from lofty goals and expectations. He said the Patriots are trying to be the last team playing in March – the squad cutting down the nets in Lake Charles at the Top 28.

The Patriots are 5-2 at press-time against one of the toughest schedules of anyone in Class 4A.

“Here at Ellender, the goal is always to win big in the playoffs and make a push for the State Championship,” Scott said. “We don’t shy away from that or back down from it. We talk to our kids and they know what’s expected. I think we have a group that’s talented, deep and battle tested. We made the Quarterfinals last year, and we want to win a couple more this year and give ourselves a shot to win it all.”

The Patriots surely have enough talent to win it all.

Ellender is one of the deepest clubs in Louisiana, possessing a rotation that can sometimes go as many as 11 or 12 deep if Scott

chooses to do so.

The Patriots’ offensive surge is often led by Davontavean Martin – the 6-foot, 4-inch junior guard who is considered by many to be one of the best players in the state of Louisiana for the Class of 2017.

Martin can score inside, outside and from mid-range. He possesses both elite shooting with elite handles and passing skills – a proverbial total package when it comes to the high school game.

“He can do so many things for us,” Ellender guard Curtis Anderson said earlier in the season. “He’s versatile and can play just about every position and can score from anywhere on the floor.”

But aside from Martin, the Patriots also have a lengthy list of prospects who can easily pitch in 15 or more points on any given night.

Senior guard Quentin Scott is Ellender’s captain – a 6-foot, 7-inch wing who routinely is among the leading scorers in the area, posting 18.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game on the season to go with 2.2 blocks, 1.7 steals and 2.3 assists per game.

He’s also Patriot coach Cornell Scott’s son, which makes for some interesting father-son moments at times during games and in practices.

“I don’t coach him any different than I do anyone else,” Cornell Scott said. “He probably would tell you I coach him harder. He’s worked hard. He’s gotten better with his fundamentals and his confidence.”

Also routinely posting big numbers are Anderson, sophomores Marquie Mosley and Kobe Hartman and senior Eric Welch – all guys who Scott thinks could be starters on almost any team in the Houma-Thibodaux area.

“Our depth is a huge plus for us,” Scott said. “We believe in everyone that we dress out. We think we can rely on and count on every, single kid that we have with us on this team. That’s something we feel good about in every game.”

The tempo the Patriots play always helps, too.

As-always, the Patriots execute their “32 Minutes of Pain” philosophy, which utilizes the full-court press to speed up the pace of the game.

The Patriots score 72 points per game, while getting 10 steals per game on the season.

Ellender’s goal is to force as many early-possession turnovers as possible to create easy, effortless offense.

“We want to put a lot of pressure on our opponents,” Scott said. “That’s how we play. That’s what fits us best. We’ve done that here at Ellender for years. That’s why there’s 32 Minutes of Pain painted onto the wall in our gym. We play with that fire and that passion and take big-time pride in our defense.”

It’s a recipe that just might be good enough to make waves in Class 4A.

The Patriots were two wins away in 2014-15, losing in the Quarterfinals to Salmen – a team which lost at the buzzer in the Class 4A State Championship Game.

Scott said he and his team remember this night, and replay it in their minds over and over again.

The coach said experiencing failure will help the team break the ice and chase success this coming spring.

“We got a taste of it, so now we want to try and go for more,” Scott said. “We think we have everything we need to make a run. It’s just up to us to put in the work to get it done. We feel good about where we stand.”