Seahawks are home Saturday vs. Angelina College

[LamarStatesports]

After two road games this week in Jacksonville, the Lamar State College-Port Arthur men’s basketball team returns home to the Carl Parker Center on Saturday for a 4 p.m. conference game with Angelina College.

Lamar State head coach Matt Cross was not pleased when his Seahawks had their weakest offensive game of the season Monday night, losing at Lon Morris College, 56-49.

“In our last nine games, with the exception Bossier Parish, we either had the lead, were tied or trailed by one to three points with two minutes remaining,” Cross said. “I was disappointed we only beat Navarro and Lee in those games, while losing at Trinity Valley, Kilgore, Lon Morris and at home to San Jacinto.

Lamar State was tied with San Jac with 1:57 remaining, but allowed the Ravens to score the final 11 points. Monday night, the Seahawks held a 49-48 lead with 1:15 on the clock, only to watch Lon Morris hit the final eight points for the win.

Cross did like what he saw Wednesday, when the Seahawks responded with a 77-59 win over Jacksonville College, which had one of the top five offenses in the nation.

“My staff and I met after Monday’s game and spent time going through different strategies for when we get to the two- minute mark,” Cross said. “Tuesday morning, we practiced those strategies at UT-Tyler in preparation for what we thought would be another close game at Jacksonville. However, our team decided to play their best second half of the season and dominate Jacksonville. So, the game never got close down the stretch.”

With Saturday’s game and two more contests remaining in the regular season, every game is important for Lamar State. The Seahawks are tied with Blinn College at 7-9 in the middle of the Region XIV South Zone standings.

Angelina is 4-11 in Region XIV action after losing 70-69 at home Wednesday to Blinn College.

The Roadrunners are battling with Lee College (3-13) for the final berth in the conference tournament.

Angelina won only one of its last nine games, a 73-66 overtime victory over North Zone leader Trinity Valley Community College.

“We know we will be in tight games down the stretch, and we want to start finishing those games the way this team is capable of,” Cross said. “Angelina still has a chance to qualify for the conference tournament, which means everything for the recruitment of their sophomores. They still have a lot to play for, and we know the importance of gaining momentum going into the postseason. Those factors should produce a great game Saturday afternoon.”

Lamar State closes the regular season next week with a Wednesday road game Blinn College and a Saturday home game against Tyler Junior College.

The Region XIV Tournament begins March 3 at the University of Texas-Tyler.

The top 12 teams in the conference qualify for the tournament. The top four seeds get a bye in the first round. The 12th seed first must play a one-game elimination contest against Coastal Bend College before the tournament begins.

Only two games separate the top five North Zone teams. Bossier Parish (2-14) will not qualify for the tournament.

South Zone leader San Jacinto College (14-2) is two games ahead of second-place Jacksonville.