Indians-Leopards at a glance

Game data: (5-1) Southern Fulton Indians vs. (7-2) Lincoln Park Leopards ... Tonight, 7:30 at Hempfield High School, Greensburg ... PIAA Class A second-round game.

Teams: The Indians (23-3) knocked off District 7's Serra Catholic 48-43 in the first round Friday ... The Leopards (19-7) rolled past Penns Manor 89-53.

Starting lineups: SF -- Luke Mellott (sr., F, 6-4, 17.2 points per game); Ryan Harper (jr., G, 6-0, 14.0 ppg); Derek Younker (sr., C, 6-2, 7.6 ppg); Seth Hall (so., G, 5-8, 5.2 ppg); Dylan Whiteside (sr., G, 5-11, 4.0 ppg) ... Lincoln Park is led by 6-3 junior guard Chaquille Pratt (27.0 ppg), and 6-9 sophomore center Devonte Watson.

P.O. pick: Leopards by 10.

By JOEL RINEER

Staff writer

In the second round of the PIAA Class A Tournament for just the second time in school history, the Southern Fulton Indians are up against their biggest test of the season so far.

Literally and figuratively.

The Indians will travel to Hempfield High School in Greensburg at 7:30 tonight to face District 7's Lincoln Park -- a new charter school near Pittsburgh -- in the second round of the state playoffs.

Their goal? To slow down 6-foot-3 scoring phenom Chaquille Pratt and 6-9 center Devonte Watson.

The duo combined for 65 points and 29 rebounds in Lincoln Park's 89-53 victory over Penns Manor in the first round Friday night.

"Their two big guys are dangerous," SF coach Kent Hendershot

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said. "We really have to concentrate on those two and what they bring to the table. I like our odds if we can contain those two guys."

Pratt racked up 46 points and 15 boards in the opener while Watson, who earlier in the season averaged a triple-double, added 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks.

In the District 7 title game, Watson had 13 blocks and in the semifinals, Serra Catholic guard Rob Heatherington compared him to the Great Wall of China.

Of course, it was Southern Fulton that defeated Heatherington and the Eagles 48-43 in the first round at the University of Pitt-Johnstown.

"As far as preparing for them, we can't go out and replicate what they do at practice," Hendershot said. "It's about X's and O's and can we adjust to what they are doing once the game starts. We need to make sure we play to our capabilities and if we do that, I don't feel we will be outclassed by them."

With Watson as its anchor, Lincoln Park, the No. 6 team in the state, employs a full-court press that will trap the ball anywhere on the court. The Leopards forced 27 turnovers vs. Penns Manor, many leading to easy buckets.

And many of those buckets were scored by Pratt. The junior forward is averaging 27 points per game, including a school-record 47 late in the regular season.

Against Penns Manor, he needed 43 points to get to 1,000 and he reached the feat in the fourth quarter.

"He's big and football-type strong and he's a good rebounder," Hendershot said of Pratt. "From 15 feet and in, he's very tough."

The Indians will play their familiar underdog role in this one, but give them credit for one thing -- they come to compete (and win).

And against Serra Catholic, Lincoln Park won 54-48 and the game was tied with two minutes left.

Hendershot said, "These guys care about nothing other than what happens in our family. They don't care what other people are saying. They know people don't expect us to win or do well and we've had a habit of proving them wrong."

Forward Luke Mellott scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter of Southern Fulton's first-round victory and Ryan Harper tossed in 15 points. The final period has certainly been winning time for these Indians.

This season, they are outscoring their opponents 15.2 to 11.3 over the final eight minutes. In the playoffs, Southern Fulton is averaging five points more than its four opponents.

"I don't know if it's any one thing. I just think we play pretty smart, handle pressure well and take care of business down the stretch," Hendershot said. "I think it typifies our team in general -- they don't want to lose. That's the biggest factor, we play to win each game and don't get caught up in the ebb and flow of the game."

This game will be as big -- literally and figuratively -- as it gets for Southern Fulton.

Notes: Lincoln Park has lost to just one Class A team this year -- Sewickley Academy 49-48 in the D7 title game ... Luke Mellott's 430 points this season are the most by an Indian player since J.P. Whiteside and Bret Palmer in 1996-97 ... SF's 23 wins tie the 2005-06 and the 2001-02 teams for the most in school history.

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Joel Rineer may be reached at 262-4819 or jrineer@publicopinionnews.com.