KFDM COOP

LU to salute Sanders, Todd Hopkins during Senior Night By Bob West The Port Arthur News BEAUMONT — Taking care of business could get pretty emotional for Lamar University players, coaches and fans Thursday night against Nicholls State. Because it’s the regular season home finale, Senior Night ceremonies will precede the game. That means it will be time to bid a symbolic farewell to three quality individuals who have represented the Cardinals will class on and off the basketball court. “It’s going to be a real special time,†said LU coach Steve Roccaforte of the tribute to be paid to Lamar Sanders, Darren Hopkins and Currye Todd. They all have a lot of family coming in. I sure hope our fans turn out in big numbers. These guys deserve it.†All three seniors will be in the starting lineup as Lamar tries to get back on the winning track after having its 11-game winning streak snapped Saturday night by McNeese State. Despite the loss, Lamar still owns a one-game lead over Stephen F. Austin for the overall top spot in the Southland Conference. Nicholls, which is 0-12 in Beaumont, comes to town with an unimpressive 4-10, 9-20 record and can’t make the field for the SLC tourney. The Colonels, though, have won two straight and should have Lamar’s full attention based on the fact the Cardinals needed overtime to beat them last month in Thibodaux. “They can give you a lot of problems when their three pointers start falling,†Roccaforte said. “They hit 16 of 31 last week and won at Northwestern State. Our guys know they are capable.†Three of the best things going for Lamar will be Sanders, Hopkins and Todd. They were Roccaforte’s first three recruits as a head coach and the junior college trio has been an integral part of helping him put excitement into a long dormant program. Sanders, out of Hickory Flat, Miss., has started all 59 games the last two years, averaging 12.0 points and 8.4 rebounds. Over the course of the past two seasons, he’s had 15 double-doubles, been named the SLC player of the week three times, was the conference rebound leader last year and authored the only triple double in school history. “Lamar Sanders is one of the most versatile guys to ever play here,†Roccaforte said. “He scores, rebounds, handles the ball and is a good passer. People think that he’s smaller than what he is because of all that he does, but he’s 6-6, 240. “He’s been a tremendous leader, the real heart and soul of our team the past two years. He does the right things, says the right things and plays harder in practice than anybody else. He’s been one of our captains for both years he’s been here. He’s also on track to graduate on May.†Hopkins, meanwhile, has started 49 of 59 games, while averaging 12.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. After going through a slump early this season, the 6-2 guard has come on strong since the start of conference play. In SLC games only, he’s the Cardinals leading scorer with a 14.4 average. “He’s a crunch time player,†said Roccaforte. “The first thing that comes to mind about Darren is the game-winning shots he made for us last year against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State in the conference tournament. He’s just a very clutch performer who is at his best late in the game. He’s one of those guys you don’t want to take off the floor. “You spend a little time with him and you realize what a special guy he is. He grew up in a very tough area of Baltimore and he’s come here and made friends and everybody loves him. Honestly, he may be the best human being I’ve ever met. He’s a two-time captain and he’s on schedule to graduate with a 3.0.†Todd, one of the best long-distance shooters to play at Lamar, has started 23 games during his two years in a Cardinal uniform and has been effective coming off the bench. The 6-4 product of Byhalia, Miss., averaged 9.5 points while connecting on 105 three point attempts. His career three-point percentage is a solid 38.7, but he’s been burying treys at a 45.3 clip this season. “Currye’s shooting range is as good as any player I’ve seen,†Roccaforte said. “He gets compared to Mike Olliver and for a Lamar player that’s as good as it gets. He can score points in a hurry and he believes in his heart he can score on anybody.

Vickers 3-Run Shot Lifts Lamar Past McNeese State, 6-3 Lamar has won five of its last six games following the 2-game sweep of McNeese March 5, 2008 Box Score LAKE CHARLES, La. - Jeff Vickers hit a 3-run home run to break a 2-2 tie and give Lamar a 6-3 win over McNeese State at Cowboy Diamond Wednesday night. Vickers had struggled in his first three at bats but came through in a big way as he belted his second homer of the season with two out in the eighth as Lamar (6-3) extended its winning streak to three games. The Cardinals have now won five of their last six contests. With McNeese State leading 2-1, pinch-hitter Brent Harris tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh inning with a mammoth blast over the fence in right-center. It was his first of the year and the first by a Lamar pinch-hitter this season, snapping an 0-for-11 stretch. The Cowboys added a run in the eighth on consecutive two-out doubles by Bryn Thompson and Justin Beitzel before Tim Erickson came out of the bullpen and got Nate Eubanks to popout to end the threat. Lamar added an insurance run in the ninth when Tyler Link singled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a Chris Dunkin sacrifice fly to right field. McNeese opened the ninth with back-to-back singles but both runners were thrown out at second attempting to stretch the hits into doubles. Josh Cholley hit a bloop down the right field line that defensive replacement Logan Pace picked up and threw it on a line to shortstop Jeremiah Sammy. Andy Riche' followed with a hit near the line in left field but was taken off the basepaths when Link connected with second-baseman Brian Taylor. Ricky Testa (2-0) got the win in relief after allowing one run on two hits. He also struck out two. Erickson earned his third save of the season with 1.1 innings of scoreless ball. Matison Smith threw a career-best three innings of scoreless ball in his second-career start. For McNeese (1-9), Scott Holstein (0-2) was saddled with the loss as he scattered seven hits and surrendered five runs in eight innings. The Cardinals got production from throughout the lineup as seven players combined for the eight hits. Jeremiah Sammy was the only LU batter to have two hits. He finished 2-for-3 and scored a run. Lamar swept the two-game non-conference series and held McNeese scoreless for the first 14 innings prior to the Cowboys' sixth. On the flip side, those MSU runs snapped a 22-inning scoreless drought for the Cowboys which dated back to Sunday's loss to Houston Baptist. The Cardinals will return to action this weekend as the host the Lamar Classic Friday-Sunday. Akron, Buffalo and New York Tech will participate. Games get underway on Friday with Buffalo and NY Tech at 1 p.m. and Lamar against Akron at 5 p.m.

8) I agree!!

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Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears Aug. 29 OPEN Sept. 5 @ West Orange-Stark Sept. 12 @ Bridge City Sept. 19 Cleveland Sept. 26 @ Port Neches-Groves* Oct. 3 Beaumont Central* Oct. 10 Nederland* Oct. 17 @ Livingston* Oct. 24 Vidor* Oct. 31 @ Lumberton* Nov. 7 Beaumont Ozen*

Texas A&M eases by Baylor 71-57 WACO -- Without the drama of the five overtime game on Jan. 23, Josh Carter scored 17 points to lead Texas A&M over Baylor 71-57 in a Big 12 game on Wednesday at the Ferrell Center. The last time these two teams played, the Bears enjoyed a 116-110 win that took five overtimes to settle.

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Wednesday Scores HJ-8 HF-7 WO-S-2 Kirbyville-1 Jasper-3 OF-1 BC-5 Silsbee-1 Thursday Scores Ozen 13 Kirbyville 3 BC 11 Ozen 8 Vidor 8 Kelly 4 Huntsville 5 Kelly 4 Woodville 16 Pollack Central 4 Apple Springs 11 Spurger 1 LC-M 10 Livingston 2 Caney Creek 9 HJ 6 Woodville 5 Newton 3 Friday LC-M 8 Whitehouse 7 LC-M 11 NE Christian 0 Kelly 17 Hemphill 10 Ozen 10 WO-S 0 Lumberton 14 Kirbyville 2 Vidor 13 Huntsville 2 LC-M 12 New Caney 6 BC 18 Central 3 Silsbee 15 Westbury 0 Buna 10 Kountze 1 Klein Collins 9 Nederland 0 Jasper 6 Hemphill 5 HJ 14 Cleveland 0 WB 6 Barbe 0 BH 11 Smiley 0 Saturday Deer Park 1 Nederland 0 Nederland 7 FB Kempner 6 Central 9 WO-S 8 Houston Westside 5 PN-G 4 OF 6 Liberty 0 Nederland 9 FB Kempner 9 Lumberton 11 BC 7 PN-G 12 Tyler Lee 1 HF 9 OF 8 Silsbee 15 Dayton 1 Hemphill 9 Huntsville 4 Jasper 9 Huntsville 5 Jasper 12 Vidor 3 BC 10 Lumberton 6 Barbe 13 West Brook 10 HF 21 Liberty 6 Evadale 14 Hackberry, LA 4 BH 6 Silsbee 0

HJ wins in 8 Innings 8-7.

7-7 in the 8th..

5-1 BC Wins!

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7-7 in the 8th.

Thomas, Hussey nab Smith Awards Van Wade The Orange Leader BEAUMONT — East Chambers' Tramain Thomas walked away with the Defensive Award while Lumberton tailback Cody Hussey claimed the Offensive Award at the 16th annual Willie Ray Smith Awards at the Elegante Hotel Wednesday night. Thomas, who was also an offensive finalist, posted 106 tackles and 11 interceptions in leading the Buccaneers to the District 24-2A title. Thomas has signed to play college football at Arkansas. Hussey, the District 22-4A Offensive Player of the Year, led the Raiders to their first-ever playoff berth. Hussey tore through opponents for 1,783 yards and 19 touchdowns on 254 carries. West Orange-Stark had two finalists in running back DePauldrick Garrett and linebacker/defensive end Cory Bell. Garrett, the Orange Leader's Offensive Player of the Year, became WO-S' 25 touchdowns on 204 carries in helping lead the Mustangs (11-2) to their fourth straight District 21-3A crown and all the way to the Class 3A Division II Region III semifinals. Garrett wrapped us his days at WO-S with 3,251 yards and 52 touchdowns on 476 carries. Other offensive finalists included Beaumont West Brook running back Christine Michael, who dashed for 1,171 yards and 24 TDs on 197 rushes; Kirbyville running back Pierce Rhodes, who had 1,922 yards and 27 TDs on 206 carries; and East Chambers' Thomas, who had 2,215 total yards (1,352 rushing, 863 passing) and was involved in 35 touchdowns. Bell had his hands involved in a team-leading 130 tackles. He collected 10 tackles for losses, caused four fumbles and recovered three more. In 21-3A play, Bell was a part of a defensive unit that allowed a mere 7.7 points a game as the Mustangs were able to extend their current 21-3A winning streak to 24 games. Joining Bell as defensive finalists were Thomas, West Brook safety David Falgout, who posted 119 tackles and three interceptions; and Beaumont Kelly defensive end Kheeston Randall, who notched 78 tackles, 16 sacks and forced four fumbles. The guest speaker was former West Brook standout Frank Middleton, who played eight years in the NFL for Tampa Bay and Oakland. He played for the Raiders when they made the Super Bowl in 2003. The Smith Awards are in honor of legendary Southeast Texas coach Willie Ray Smith, Sr. (1911-1992). Smith began his coaching career in 1942 at Dunbar High School in Lufkin. After coaching for four years, Smith came to Orange where he led Wallace High School up to 1957. In 1957, Smith began an 18-year coaching stint at Beaumont Charlton-Pollard High School. Smith captured 235 games in his career, accomplishing amazing feats with stern discipline. He took over ill-equipped programs and turned each one of them into consistent winners. Smith's sons, Tody and Bubba, who both starred in the National Football League, are among more than 20 players he helped send on to pro football.

7-7 in the 7th..

Yup. The 3 games are final!

7-5 HJ 7th.

3-1 BC in the 7th...Jackson 2 run HR.

5-5 in the 6th.

Congrats to all the Players!!

5-3 HJ in the 6th.

3-1 Jasper wins.

5-2 HJ in the 6th.

Thanks.

1-1 in the 6th.