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The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team has a 7-0 record going into their first Region XIV conference game Saturday, when they host the 2009 regular season champion, Lon Morris College, at 4 p.m. in the Carl Parker Center. The Seahawks topped Baton Rouge Community College, 74-62, on the road Saturday for their seventh-straight win. This season is a mirror opposite of Lamar State’s first campaign six years ago, when the Seahawks took the court just five months after the program was announced and absorbed 15 losses in six weeks from Region XIV teams. Each succeeding year brought improved results, but the Seahawks still received little respect. That hasn’t changed this year. In spite of a perfect 7-0 start, Lamar State didn’t receive any votes in the NJCAA’s first regular season poll released Tuesday. The Seahawks can change pollsters’ perception in the next two games, as they face two nationally-ranked teams – Lon Morris on Saturday and perennial powerhouse San Jacinto College, also just outside the Top 20, next Tuesday. Lon Morris (5-2) was No. 24 in the pre-season poll, but dropped just beyond the Top 20 in this week’s rankings after losing by two points to South Plains College. The Bearcats, who are picked to win the Region XIV title, are coming off an 85-81 Wednesday home loss to Weatherford College, which avenged its season-opening loss to Lon Morris. Lamar State is averaging 103 points per game. Six players are in double figures, led by freshman forward Leviante Davis (21.7 ppg), who is 14th in the nation in scoring. Sophomore guard Kavon Rose, who sat out the Baton Rouge game with an ankle injury, is averaging 17.7 ppg, followed by freshman guard Keenan Doyle (15.1), sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips (10.6), freshman guard Von Jones (10) and freshman forward Roman Vaughn (10) Phillips leads the nation in rebounding and is third in blocked shots. Lamar State head coach Matt Cross expects a tough matchup against Lon Morris. “The defending conference champs, led by their veteran coach Dale Dotson, will be a tough test for our young team. This game will give us a measuring stick to see exactly where we are in our mission to win a championship for Lamar State College-Port Arthur,” Cross said. “There will be a lot of hype about this game, but at this point in the year, this basketball game is not going to make or break our season. It would be gratifying to win for all our students, faculty, staff and alumni who will be attending Saturday’s Homecoming game.” Cross said injured guard Kavon Rose may be able to play some minutes against Lon Morris. “Kavon probably won’t be back to 100 percent, but our team is hopeful he will be able to play and give us as much as he can on his tweaked ankle.”

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team has a 7-0 record going into their first Region XIV conference game Saturday, when they host the 2009 regular season champion, Lon Morris College, at 4 p.m. in the Carl Parker Center. The Seahawks topped Baton Rouge Community College, 74-62, on the road Saturday for their seventh-straight win. This season is a mirror opposite of Lamar State’s first campaign six years ago, when the Seahawks took the court just five months after the program was announced and absorbed 15 losses in six weeks from Region XIV teams. Each succeeding year brought improved results, but the Seahawks still received little respect. That hasn’t changed this year. In spite of a perfect 7-0 start, Lamar State didn’t receive any votes in the NJCAA’s first regular season poll released Tuesday. The Seahawks can change pollsters’ perception in the next two games, as they face two nationally-ranked teams – Lon Morris on Saturday and perennial powerhouse San Jacinto College, also just outside the Top 20, next Tuesday. Lon Morris (5-2) was No. 24 in the pre-season poll, but dropped just beyond the Top 20 in this week’s rankings after losing by two points to South Plains College. The Bearcats, who are picked to win the Region XIV title, are coming off an 85-81 Wednesday home loss to Weatherford College, which avenged its season-opening loss to Lon Morris. Lamar State is averaging 103 points per game. Six players are in double figures, led by freshman forward Leviante Davis (21.7 ppg), who is 14th in the nation in scoring. Sophomore guard Kavon Rose, who sat out the Baton Rouge game with an ankle injury, is averaging 17.7 ppg, followed by freshman guard Keenan Doyle (15.1), sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips (10.6), freshman guard Von Jones (10) and freshman forward Roman Vaughn (10) Phillips leads the nation in rebounding and is third in blocked shots. Lamar State head coach Matt Cross expects a tough matchup against Lon Morris. “The defending conference champs, led by their veteran coach Dale Dotson, will be a tough test for our young team. This game will give us a measuring stick to see exactly where we are in our mission to win a championship for Lamar State College-Port Arthur,” Cross said. “There will be a lot of hype about this game, but at this point in the year, this basketball game is not going to make or break our season. It would be gratifying to win for all our students, faculty, staff and alumni who will be attending Saturday’s Homecoming game.” Cross said injured guard Kavon Rose may be able to play some minutes against Lon Morris. “Kavon probably won’t be back to 100 percent, but our team is hopeful he will be able to play and give us as much as he can on his tweaked ankle.”

This is the best start ever for the Seahawks, who have one more non-conference matchup before they begin Region XIV play, where the competition will be much tougher. So far this season, the team has broken the scoring record, the margin of victory record, the win-streak record and the home win-streak record. I look for a lot more individual and team records to fall as the season progresses.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team stretched their season record to 6-0 Wednesday night at home in the Carl Parker Center with a 97-52 victory over Lone Star College-Tomball. Four Seahawks scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Keenan Doyle with 17 points. Freshman forward Leviante Davis had 15 points, while freshman guard Nick Walters from Silsbee contributed 13 and sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips added 10. Lamar State pulled away to an early lead and was up by 28 points at halftime. The Seahawks lost starting guard Kavon Rose to an ankle injury early in the second half. Lamar State has one more non-conference game on the road Saturday at Baton Rouge Community College before opening Region XIV play at home Nov. 21, against Lon Morris College, last year’s regular season conference champion.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team stretched their season record to 6-0 Wednesday night at home in the Carl Parker Center with a 97-52 victory over Lone Star College-Tomball. Four Seahawks scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Keenan Doyle with 17 points. Freshman forward Leviante Davis had 15 points, while freshman guard Nick Walters from Silsbee contributed 13 and sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips added 10. Lamar State pulled away to an early lead and was up by 28 points at halftime. The Seahawks lost starting guard Kavon Rose to an ankle injury early in the second half. Lamar State has one more non-conference game on the road Saturday at Baton Rouge Community College before opening Region XIV play at home Nov. 21, against Lon Morris College, last year’s regular season conference champion.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team extended their season record to 5-0 Monday evening at home in the Carl Parker Center with a record-setting 129-79 victory over Victoria College. The Seahawks’ previous high-point game was a 112-77 home win against Mountain View College in February 2008. Lamar State opened an early 10-point lead against Victoria and soon extended it to 20 points, finishing the first half with a commanding 63-27 lead. Four Seahawks hit for double figures in the first half, led by sophomore guard Kavon Rose with 14 points. Lamar State pulled away in the second half and finished the game with six players in double figures. Freshman center Leviante Davis led the Seahawks with 29 points, followed by freshman forward Roman Vaughn with 21, Rose with 17, freshman guard Keenan Doyle with 16 and freshman guard Von Jones with 13. Lamar State will be back in action at home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup with Lone Star College-Tomball.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team extended their season record to 5-0 Monday evening at home in the Carl Parker Center with a record-setting 129-79 victory over Victoria College. The Seahawks’ previous high-point game was a 112-77 home win against Mountain View College in February 2008. Lamar State opened an early 10-point lead against Victoria and soon extended it to 20 points, finishing the first half with a commanding 63-27 lead. Four Seahawks hit for double figures in the first half, led by sophomore guard Kavon Rose with 14 points. Lamar State pulled away in the second half and finished the game with six players in double figures. Freshman center Leviante Davis led the Seahawks with 29 points, followed by freshman forward Roman Vaughn with 21, Rose with 17, freshman guard Keenan Doyle with 16 and freshman guard Von Jones with 13. Lamar State will be back in action at home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup with Lone Star College-Tomball.

The Seahawks are 4-0 after defeating Lone Star College-Kingwood, 110-73, on Saturday. Lamar State won the opening night game of the Port Arthur Rotary Seahawk Classic Tournament with a 112-93 victory over Coastal Bend College. The Seahawks are back in action Monday night at 7 p.m. in the Carl Parker against Victoria College.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur 1500 Procter Street (P.O. Box 310), Port Arthur, Texas 77641-0310 The Lamar State College-Port Arthur Seahawks women’s softball team will hold open tryouts Saturday, December 12, for current high school juniors and seniors and students now enrolled at Lamar State or planning to attend the college. The tryouts will take place from 9-11 a.m. at Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the Lamar State campus. Lamar State competes in Region XIV, one of the toughest Division I conferences in the National Junior College Athletic Association. Interested players are asked to download a Tryout Registration form from the Softball page of the college website (www.lamarpa.edu), fill out the form and then follow the instructions for returning it to the college. Players also are asked to fill out and submit the on-line Prospective Student/Athlete form on the Athletics page of the college website.  For information, call Coach Edwards at 984-6293, or send e-mail to: [email protected].

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will be home in the Carl Parker Center this weekend to host their first-ever invitational basketball tournament. The Nov. 6-7 Port Arthur Rotary Seahawk Classic Tournament features Lamar State, Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area. LSC-PA athletic director Bill Worsham said, “We are pleased to have the Rotary Club of Port Arthur as a co-sponsor of this tournament, and hope this becomes an annual event. We invite everyone to come out and see some exciting basketball games.” Lone Star College-Kingwood competes in the Lone Star Sport Club Conference, which includes teams from other Lone Star College System campuses and recreational teams from Rice University, the Houston Community College System, the University of Houston, Sam Houston State University and Texas Southern University. Coastal Bend College is a second-year program that hopes to join Region XIV in the future. Kingwood reached the playoffs of their conference, so they are unable to play their Friday night game in the tournament, leaving Lamar State to play Coastal Bend at 7 p.m. Lamar State is 2-0 after opening the season Monday with a 101-79 home win over Southern University-Shreveport, followed by a 96-70 road win at Lone Star College-Kingwood on Tuesday. Saturday’s games are Coastal Bend versus Dallas Diesel at noon, and Lamar State against Lone Star-Kingwood at 2 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. LSC-PA students with a valid ID card get in free.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will be home in the Carl Parker Center this weekend to host their first-ever invitational basketball tournament. The Nov. 6-7 Port Arthur Rotary Seahawk Classic Tournament features Lamar State, Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area. LSC-PA athletic director Bill Worsham said, “We are pleased to have the Rotary Club of Port Arthur as a co-sponsor of this tournament, and hope this becomes an annual event. We invite everyone to come out and see some exciting basketball games.” Lone Star College-Kingwood competes in the Lone Star Sport Club Conference, which includes teams from other Lone Star College System campuses and recreational teams from Rice University, the Houston Community College System, the University of Houston, Sam Houston State University and Texas Southern University. Coastal Bend College is a second-year program that hopes to join Region XIV in the future. Kingwood reached the playoffs of their conference, so they are unable to play their Friday night game in the tournament, leaving Lamar State to play Coastal Bend at 7 p.m. Lamar State is 2-0 after opening the season Monday with a 101-79 home win over Southern University-Shreveport, followed by a 96-70 road win at Lone Star College-Kingwood on Tuesday. Saturday’s games are Coastal Bend versus Dallas Diesel at noon, and Lamar State against Lone Star-Kingwood at 2 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. LSC-PA students with a valid ID card get in free.

Twenty former members of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur women’s softball team will be back on the college campus Saturday, Nov. 7, to play in an exhibition game to raise money for the program. The first-time event was organized by current LSC-PA assistant coach Erin Lovelady, who was the catcher for the Seahawks during the first two seasons (2005-06) and the first all-conference player in 2006. “Other schools have alumni games to raise money, and now that we’ve been playing six years, it was time for us to do one,” Lovelady said. “It will be great fun to get together and hear what everyone is up to, and we also will have a very competitive game.” Lovelady found five sponsors for the contest – Dockens Construction, Subway, First American Reserve, Soutex Surveyors Inc. and Chick-Fil-A. “We also want to thank four families for their support – the Sims family, the Williams family, the Little family and the Simmons family,” Lovelady said. The game begins at 1 p.m. on Martin Field, 1000 Lakeshore Drive on the Lamar State campus. There is no admission charge. Returning players include Lovelady and three other catchers – Shauna Sicotte, Kristen Botello and Heather Pinder. Other returning players are outfielders Diana Polk, Jessica Tapp, Kerry Courts-Sims, Elissa Frost, LaKeisha Miller and Sarah Watson; pitchers Alisa Flores, Alison Heidbreder and Sadie Dykes; and infielders Krystal Benoit, Christine Murphy-Norris, Megan Little, Ashley Lapeyrolerie, Christina Jaques, Ashley Craigen and Kala Tynes.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men's basketball team upped their early season record to 2-0 Tuesday with a 96-70 road win at Lone Star College-Kingwod. The Seahawks and the Coyotes were tied 8-8 early in the game, but Lamar State broke out with an 11-0 run and never looked back. Just like Monday's opening night home victory over Southern University-Shreveport, Tuesday's game was a team effort. Five Seahawks hit for double figures, led by starting guard Kavon Rose with 22 points, 7 assists, 7 steals and 6 rebounds. Keenan Doyle collected 21 points, while Ahyaro Phillips had 14 points. Demetrius Ford came off the bench to score 14 and Von Jones added 10 points for Lamar State. Monsignor Kelly High School grad Roman Vaughn got his first start for the Seahawks and responded with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Lamar State is back in action this weekend as they return to the Carl Parker Center to host the first annual Port Arthur Rotary Seahawk Classic Tournament, which includes Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area. More information about the tournament will be posted tomorrow.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men's basketball team upped their early season record to 2-0 Tuesday with a 96-70 road win at Lone Star College-Kingwod. The Seahawks and the Coyotes were tied 8-8 early in the game, but Lamar State broke out with an 11-0 run and never looked back. Just like Monday's opening night home victory over Southern University-Shreveport, Tuesday's game was a team effort. Five Seahawks hit for double figures, led by starting guard Kavon Rose with 22 points, 7 assists, 7 steals and 6 rebounds. Keenan Doyle collected 21 points, while Ahyaro Phillips had 14 points. Demetrius Ford came off the bench to score 14 and Von Jones added 10 points for Lamar State. Monsignor Kelly High School grad Roman Vaughn got his first start for the Seahawks and responded with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Lamar State is back in action this weekend as they return to the Carl Parker Center to host the first annual Port Arthur Rotary Seahawk Classic Tournament, which includes Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area. More information about the tournament will be posted tomorrow.

Nick actually had three 3's for 9 points against Southern U. He hit back-to-back treys midway through the second half to help the Seahawks break out of the full-court press being put on them by the Port City Jaguars. Everyone on the team scored on the first night of the season, and four players were in double figures. Check out my post (coming up after I finish this one) about the Tuesday night win at Lone Star College-Kingwood, where five Seahawks hit for double digit points. Lamar State has very good talent all the way down the roster from the starters to the reserves. If they are successful this season it will be because of a team effort rather than a couple of stars.

First-year head basketball coach Matt Cross' tenure at Lamar State College-Port Arthur had an impressive start Monday night, when the Seahawks opened the season at home in the Carl Parker Center with a 101-79 win over Southern University-Shreveport. Lamar State pulled ahead by 10 points early in the contest, but the Port City Jaguars recovered and closed to four points but never could take the lead. The Seahawks led by 12 points, 41-29, at halftime, led by starting guard Kavon Rose with 13 points. Lamar State took control early in the second half. Southern U made a short comeback fueled by a swarming full-court press. But the Seahawks pulled away and led by 28 points near the middle of the half and coasted from there to win by 22 points. Rose and starting forward Leviante Davis led Lamar State's scoring with 23 points each. Reserve forward Roman Vaughn contributed 15 points and starting guard Von Jones added 10 points. Brian Staffore led Southern U with 18 points, while LaMario Harris and Darien Davis had 14 points and 12 points, respectively. The Seahawks are back in action Tuesday in a 4 p.m. non-conference matchup at Lone Star College-Kingwood. Lamar State will be home Friday and Saturday to host the first annual Port Arthur Rotary Seahawks Classic Tournament, which also features Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area.

First-year head basketball coach Matt Cross' tenure at Lamar State College-Port Arthur had an impressive start Monday night, when the Seahawks opened the season at home in the Carl Parker Center with a 101-79 win over Southern University-Shreveport. Lamar State pulled ahead by 10 points early in the contest, but the Port City Jaguars recovered and closed to four points but never could take the lead. The Seahawks led by 12 points, 41-29, at halftime, led by starting guard Kavon Rose with 13 points. Lamar State took control early in the second half. Southern U made a short comeback fueled by a swarming full-court press. But the Seahawks pulled away and led by 28 points near the middle of the half and coasted from there to win by 22 points. Rose and starting forward Leviante Davis led Lamar State's scoring with 23 points each. Reserve forward Roman Vaughn contributed 15 points and starting guard Von Jones added 10 points. Brian Staffore led Southern U with 18 points, while LaMario Harris and Darien Davis had 14 points and 12 points, respectively. The Seahawks are back in action Tuesday in a 4 p.m. non-conference matchup at Lone Star College-Kingwood. Lamar State will be home Friday and Saturday to host the first annual Port Arthur Rotary Seahawks Classic Tournament, which also features Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the greater Dallas area.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team kicks off their sixth season of intercollegiate competition next Monday and Tuesday with back-to-back non-conference games against Southern University-Shreveport and Lone Star College-Kingwood. Southern U comes to Port Arthur on Monday for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the Carl Parker Center. Lamar State is on the road Tuesday for a 4 p.m. matchup in Kingwood. The Seahawks had only nine wins overall and two conference wins this past season in their first Division I campaign. One of those wins was the season opener in Shreveport, where the Seahawks handed the SU-S its first home loss since 2004. Lamar State’s first-year head coach Matt Cross expects his team to post a much improved mark this year. “I was pleased to see this young group go undefeated in our preseason scrimmage games,” Cross said. “The guys are working really hard every day to improve. So, hopefully, we can carry our momentum into the regular season.” In addition to the two opening games, the Seahawks have five other non-conference games before beginning Region XIV play Nov. 21 at home against Lon Morris College, last season’s regular season conference champion. Five of Lamar State’s first seven games are at home. “We are fortunate to have the majority of our non-conference games at home in front of our fans,” Cross said. “We welcome everyone to come out and watch some exciting college basketball this year in the Parker Center.” Lamar State will close out the first week of the season by hosting the first annual Seahawk Classic Tournament, which includes Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the Dallas metro area.

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team kicks off their sixth season of intercollegiate competition next Monday and Tuesday with back-to-back non-conference games against Southern University-Shreveport and Lone Star College-Kingwood. Southern U comes to Port Arthur on Monday for a 7 p.m. tipoff in the Carl Parker Center. Lamar State is on the road Tuesday for a 4 p.m. matchup in Kingwood. The Seahawks had only nine wins overall and two conference wins this past season in their first Division I campaign. One of those wins was the season opener in Shreveport, where the Seahawks handed the SU-S its first home loss since 2004. Lamar State’s first-year head coach Matt Cross expects his team to post a much improved mark this year. “I was pleased to see this young group go undefeated in our preseason scrimmage games,” Cross said. “The guys are working really hard every day to improve. So, hopefully, we can carry our momentum into the regular season.” In addition to the two opening games, the Seahawks have five other non-conference games before beginning Region XIV play Nov. 21 at home against Lon Morris College, last season’s regular season conference champion. Five of Lamar State’s first seven games are at home. “We are fortunate to have the majority of our non-conference games at home in front of our fans,” Cross said. “We welcome everyone to come out and watch some exciting college basketball this year in the Parker Center.” Lamar State will close out the first week of the season by hosting the first annual Seahawk Classic Tournament, which includes Coastal Bend College, Lone Star College-Kingwood and the Dallas Diesel, an all-star team from the Dallas metro area.

Coach Cole has two assistants -- Kyle Blankenship and Larry Alexander. I don't have a bio for Coach Alexander yet, but here is the information about Coach Blankenship Kyle Blankenship comes to Lamar State after three seasons as an assistant coach at Louisiana State University-Shreveport, where he helped the Pilots attain an 81-23 overall record, one regular season Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship, three consecutive GCAC tournament championships (2007-09) and three straight NAIA National Tournament appearances (2007-09), including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2008. In 2007-08, LSU-S finished with a school record 34 wins and a No. 2 national ranking while defeating three NCAA Division 1 opponents (McNeese State University, Centenary College and Northwestern State University). Blankenship also served as the recruiting coordinator at LSU-S, where he helped recruit and sign two NAIA All-Americans, six first team all-conference selections, nine NCAA Division 1 transfers, four high school all-state players, the 2009 GCAC Freshman of the Year and the 2009 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year. Prior to coaching at LSUS, Blankenship completed his playing career in 2006 as a member of LSU-S basketball team. In the 2005-06 season, Blankenship helped guide the Pilots’ offense to a record-breaking season and a No. 1 national ranking in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. Blankenship finished his career at LSU-S as the school’s single-season assists leader (199) and single-game assists record holder (14). Blankenship transferred to LSU-S after playing three seasons at the University of Tulsa, where he was a team captain, three-year letter winner and a member of two Western Athletic Conference championship teams that made two consecutive appearances in second round of the NCAA Tournament (2003 and 2004). Blankenship earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing from The University of Tulsa in 2006.

Here are a couple of corrections to that story: 1. The Seahawks actually went 9-19 last year, not 8-20. Richland College had three ineligible playes and had to forfeit a win to Lamar State. 2. There are three local players on this year's team counting Nick Walters, a 6'-3" 210-pound guard from Silsbee.

Fans of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will get their first chance to see the Seahawks in action Saturday, when they host Wiley College in a noon scrimmage game at the Carl Parker Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive. Admission is free. The Seahawks played three scrimmage games this past weekend at the annual Dallas Shootout, where they faced Southwest Texas Junior College, Arkansas Baptist University and North Lake College. Lamar State kicks off the 2009-10 season at home Monday, Nov. 2, against Southern University-Shreveport. Seven of the Seahawk’ first 10 games will be played at home, including two games in the college’s first-ever tournament, the Seahawks Classic, which is set for Nov. 6-7.

Fans of the Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team will get their first chance to see the Seahawks in action Saturday, when they host Wiley College in a noon scrimmage game at the Carl Parker Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive. Admission is free. The Seahawks played three scrimmage games this past weekend at the annual Dallas Shootout, where they faced Southwest Texas Junior College, Arkansas Baptist University and North Lake College. Lamar State kicks off the 2009-10 season at home Monday, Nov. 2, against Southern University-Shreveport. Seven of the Seahawk’ first 10 games will be played at home, including two games in the college’s first-ever tournament, the Seahawks Classic, which is set for Nov. 6-7.

The 2009-10 roster is posted at: [Hidden Content]

Yes, you are correct. There are no returning players from the 2008-09 Seahawks squad.