Gulf's offense is built on speed and aggression

By BOB PUTNAM

Gulf coach Mike Quarto does not believe that basketball games should be tortured endeavors

Forgoing a half-court offense that is tortoise- paced and coarse in execution, Quarto seeks to employ a helter-skelter, hurry-up offense that will leave skidmarks on the court from defenders.

He has the athletes to do it.

After years of obscurity, Gulf has become one of the county's most talked-about teams, thanks to a plethora of playmakers, including junior center Tiara Cook and sophomore point guard Dominique English.

Those two form the nucleus of a young team that went through a remarkable transformation last year, going from 2-22 to 17-8 and the brink of the playoffs. It was the program's best showing since going 16-12 in 1998-99.

"I knew as young as we were last year, it was going to be roller-coaster ride," Quarto said. "It was pretty dramatic what we were able to do. We were able to gain a lot of momentum. Now let's see what we can do with it."

While these are heady days for Gulf, Quarto realizes that it is easy to go from up-and-coming one season to down-and-out the next.

But inconsistent play should not be much of a problem for a team that appears on the verge of bigger things.

Four of five Buccaneer starters are underclassmen, including a transfer, Turquoise Sampson, who played for Mitchell last season.

"Even though these girls are young, they have quite a bit of experience," Quarto said. "They play basketball year-round, some close to 80 games. It's going to help with what we're trying to do."

What Quarto wants to do is run and run, then run some more.

When his team grabs a rebound, he wants his point guard, English, to steam to the frontcourt with the ball.

Instead of pulling up, running a set and milking the clock, English will continue to push upcourt and find players who can take it to the hole.

To make this work, English will have to stay healthy. She took a surgical detour last season when she twice tore the anterior cruciate ligament on her right knee and had a fiber tear in her meniscus.

Without her, Quarto was forced to work the ball inside to Cook, who camped out under the basket and averaged 19.8 points. She also augmented her hoops cred by becoming an outstanding rebounder (13.6 per game).

"We will want to have things go through Tiara," Quarto said. "She's a force and we can work the ball inside-out with her."

The added dimension is Sampson. The 5-8 off-guard, who led the Mustangs in scoring (10.3 points), steals (2.5) and assists (1.4), switched schools Feb. 27 under the district's school choice policy to be with friends from middle school.

"I just wanted something different," Sampson said.

With the ability to slalom through snarling elbowing traffic at full speed, then trampoline straight up for a jumper, Sampson gives the Buccaneers another scoring threat to help its up-tempo game.

"She has an outstanding medium-range shot and can finish off the break," Quarto said.

Because she transferred in February, Sampson was eligible to participate in Gulf's summer basketball program.

Under the county's school choice policy, any student may transfer as long as the new school's enrollment is not capped. The school district does not require, nor ask for, a reason.

But her switch, which could change the balance of power in the county, did not sit well with some coaches.

"On behalf of Mitchell High School," Mustangs coach Stephanie Baldwin said at the time, "we wish her goodbye and good luck."

With a formidable trio, the Bucs have the players to compete among the elite. Graduation cost powers Ridgewood, Pasco and Land O'Lakes key players, which could leave Gulf as the county favorite this year.

"They have to be considered as one of the top two or three teams," River Ridge coach Al Sorrentino said.

"They certainly have the players. It's just a matter of them putting it all together."