If timing is everything, then the start of the Class 4-A playoffs could not have come at a better time for the Orangeburg-Wilkinson girls' basketball team.

The Bruinettes (21-2) enter tonight's 6 p.m. first-round contest at home against West Florence (10-11) riding the momentum of a 10-game winning streak and a second straight Region 7-AAAA championship. They also start the postseason brimming with confidence thanks in part to a 16-game home playoff winning streak which stretches back 10 years.

"The young ladies know what is expected of them not just from the coaches but also from the Bruinettes that have moved on to play college ball and are in their professional careers now," O-W head coach Joshua Staley said. "Plus the basketball program is such that the tradition is so strong...they have to live up to certain expectations. No one wants to be the group where those expectations dropped, so the young ladies know what to expect by playing at home in the playoffs.

O-W -- should it win and continue winning in the playoffs -- is guaranteed at least two home games in its quest for a fifth state title and first since 2002 under the late Edward Pellman.

"It's just a relief that we wouldn't have to travel in the second round," Staley. "If we're very fortunate to win tomorrow night, at least we'll have another home game on Friday and not have to worry about travelling. But as far as the mindset, we're trying to stay focused and do what we need to do. At the same time, have some fun."

Sharing the bill with the boys' team which will also face West Florence in the 8 p.m. contest tonight should also aid in the Bruinettes' comfort level at home. The O-W boys look to put behind them an 11-12 regular season, while the Knights (9-14) are led by Region 6-AAAA Player of the Year senior Kimric Dixon and All-Region teammate Jonathan Gardner.

"That gives us a better feel," Staley said. "It makes us feel almost like another regular-season game and I guess we can eliminate some of the pressures because it gives you a regular normal feel. Though we're looking at taking it that way, we're trying to raise our level of play, but it should help out with the turnout. The people that want to come see the boys or want to come see the girls, they'll come to the game. It helps a lot."

Coming off last year's second-round exit to eventual repeat champion Lower Richland, Staley said this year's Bruinette team is more experienced and battle-tested. More importantly, the team is at full strength for the first time in weeks, specifically, leading scorer and rebounder junior Erica Sumpter who has regained some of her early-season form after missing action with an ankle injury.

"She's getting her step back," Staley said. "It took her a while to get back after she came back from the injury and tomorrow night will probably be the first game that we have everyone healthy since the eight game of the season. And Erica is really getting back in form. She's about 100 percent now, so she looks good."

The real key for O-W is senior point guard La'Teia Brailey, who leads the team in steals and assists per game for the Bruinettes.

"She's just going to have to keep doing what she's been doing but at a higher level now because it's the playoffs," Staley said. "No one wants their next game to be their last. She needs to get us into our sets, continue to lead the charge as far as defensive intensity because she starts it out at the point position.

"She hasn't had to carry the whole load by herself this season. Waneeshia Perry has done a good job and Shawanda Hanton has played some point for us this season also."

The O-W girls' run to a championship could take a turn down past championship memory lane. A win over the Lady Knights could set up a potential rematch with Dutch Fork, a team the Bruinettes defeated in 2002 to claim their last state title and who handed them their last loss 70-66 on Jan. 5 in Orangeburg.

Should O-W reach the third round, there's a possible showdown against Hartsville, whom the Bruinettes faced in the Class 4-A final three straight years from 1990-92 - winning in 1991.

Although West Florence, whose head coach Kevin Allen was selected to coach the South Carolina team which will face North Carolina in the annual Carolinas All-Star Classic April 5 at the Bobcat Arena in Charlotte, finished 1-7 in Region 6-AAAA and is coming off a 45-41 triple-overtime loss last Friday to a South Florence team which also won just one region game, Staley insists looking ahead is nowhere in the Bruinettes' plans.

"I know (West Florence is) fundamentally sound," he said. "I know they have a very good post player who's averaging nearly 15-17 points per game. I know they have a pretty good shooter, so we're not taking them lightly at all. They played in a real tough competitive conference. We're taking them like we take any other game. We're taking them seriously and right now, we're focusing on West Florence."

S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Tonight's Games

(GIRLS)

CLASS A

(Upper State)

Indian Land at Calhoun County 7 p.m.

North at Chesterfield 7 p.m.

McBee at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 7 p.m.

(Lower State)

Allendale-Fairfax at St. John's 6:30 p.m.

Baptist Hill at Blackville-Hilda 7 p.m.

Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Bethune-Bowman 7 p.m.

CLASS 2-A

(Upper State)

Pelion at Newberry 7 p.m.

(Lower State)

Andrews at Woodland 7 p.m.

CLASS 4-A

(Upper State)

West Florence at Orangeburg-Wilkinson 6 p.m.

(BOYS)

CLASS A

(Lower State)

Allendale-Fairfax at St. John's 8 p.m.

CLASS 3-A

(Lower State)

Swansea at North Charleston 7 p.m.

Lake Marion at Brookland-Cayce 7 p.m.

CLASS 4-A

(Upper State)

West Florence at Orangeburg-Wilkinson 8 p.m.

Wednesday's Games

(BOYS)

CLASS A

(Upper State)

Lewisville at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, 7 p.m.

North at North Central, 7 p.m.

Chesterfield at Calhoun County, 7 p.m.

(Lower State)

Lincoln at Bamberg-Ehrhardt, 7 p.m.

Blackville-Hilda at Academic Magnet, 7 p.m.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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