Seahawks battle hard, bow to Harvesters

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Seahawks battle hard, bow to Harvesters
EASTFIELD 81, LAMAR PORT ARTHUR 75

By Tom Halliburton
The Port Arthur News


Eastfield College coach Anthony Fletcher proudly sounded as if owned a most unique Carl Parker Center distinction.


  When Fletcher's Harvesters sneaked out with an 81-75 survival Wednesday at Lamar State College Port Arthur, the coach of the Mesquite-based high-flying Eastfield squad reminded his listener of a fact that he could not forget.

  "This is the first time I've ever won a game here after two losses," Fletcher said. "I gave Lamar-Port Arthur its first win ever here."

  My, my... what a strange way of putting it.

  Anyways, Fletcher almost saw his Harvesters (15-5 and 2-1) gift-wrap another one. The Seahawks (8-9 and 1-1) battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit and led 69-65 with six minutes to play.

  That's before Eastfield sophomore guard Ryan Boyd calmly and casually stepped up and connected a pair of big shots and guided the Harvesters out of danger in the final couple of minutes.

  A former high school teammate of Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge at Seagoville HS, Boyd led all scorers with 18 points and canned a 20-footer over LSCPA's Jemel Douriso to put Eastfield ahead for good -- 75-73 with 1:45 to play.

  Eastfield sank its next five free throws while Lamar Port Arthur was unable to make a few of its foul shots and Fletcher happily came away from the warm gym with a cool victory. Even though Eastfield has been ranked as high as No. 8 and entered the week No. 12 among NJCAA Division III schools, the Harvesters coach retained a healthy respect for the underdog Port Arthurans.

  "We had our second-leading scorer quit and another had knee surgery but they've got a good team," Fletcher said. "Every time I come to P.A., I get a little nervous."

  Nervous or not, Eastfield's coach arguably coached faster, taller, and more athletic players than Seahawks' coach Don Bryson. The Port Arthurans operated their offense under great duress all night because Eastfield's pressure tactics and long arms often clogged the passing lanes.

  Bryson realized just how difficult Eastfield's athleticism forced to LSCPA to function, especially down the stretch.

  "Our inability to run the offense and not block out really hurt us," the Seahawks coach said. "We didn't handle it well enough. They did a good job of halfcourt defense. It's not anything we shouldn't be able to handle. But you can't make passes like that. We made some lazy passes and then we let them bang us.

  "We played hard but we didn't take care of the ball down the stretch. We've got to play better defense. They're really quick. You turn your back on them and here they come... but we didn't play smart down the stretch."

  Five Seahawks finished in double figures, paced by Douriso's 16. Sam Stelly and Cody Guidry served as potent inside forces against the taller Harvesters with 14 and 13 respectively. George Williamson and Noah Cole added 11 and 10 points each.

  Stelly led LSCPA's rebounders with 11 followed by Cole with 10, Douriso and Guidry with eight each.