Lamar State begins final week of regular season Wednesday vs. Panola College

[LamarStatesports]

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team faces two crucial games this week to close the regular season, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when the Panola College Ponies visit the Carl Parker Center.

Lamar State still has an outside chance of taking second place in Region XIV’s South Zone, which would result in a bye in the first round of the March 5-8 conference tournament.

However, after losing 92-84 on the road Saturday at Jacksonville College, the Seahawks must win Wednesday and Saturday’s home game with Lee College, and they need some help from other teams.

Lamar State went into last Saturday’s game tied with Jacksonville and Angelina College. The loss dropped the Seahawks to 18-10 overall and 8-9 in Region XIV action.

Lamar State split the season meetings with Angelina and Jacksonville, who remained tied at 9-8 for second place.

Angelina is on the road Wednesday at South Zone leader San Jacinto College, while Jacksonville travels to Lee College

Panola College (13-13, 6-11) is coming off a 73-65 loss Saturday at Paris Junior College.

LSC-PA head coach Matt Cross said his team must improve defensively against the Ponies.

“We played really well offensively in Jacksonville, but we did not defend with any intelligence, which allowed them a ton of easy baskets,” Cross said. “We must pick up our defense against Panola because they are an offensive-minded team. This can be a big week for us with our final regular season games at home and the possibility of gaining some momentum as we head into the conference tournament.”

The Region XIV Tournament is set for March 5-8 in the Louise Herrington Patriot Center at the University of Texas-Tyler.

Seahawk Notes

* Sophomore forward Ahyaro Phillips currently is sixth in the nation in rebounding (11.56 per game) and 10th in shot blocking (3.64 per game). Von Jones is 12th in assists (6.04 per game) and 39th in steals (2.4 per game)

* Lamar State is 43rd in the nation in offensive average (80.69 points per game).