Tom Halliburton
The Port Arthur News
PORT ARTHUR —
A big part of Lamar State’s basketball success will resume their efforts together at a new venue next season.
Seahawks assistant head coach Larry Alexander told The News late Friday night that he agreed to accept a similar position at Ranger College in Ranger, Texas.
Two frequent starters on the Region XIV South Zone champions squad will join Alexander at Ranger College.
Guards Shondel Stewart and Darrian Provost have accepted scholarship offers to Ranger to join basketball coach Larry Brown’s program.
Former Houston Rockets guard Robert Reid escorted Stewart and Provost around the Ranger JC campus earlier this week.
The decision for Alexander to join Ranger’s program was finalized Friday.
Alexander had served as an assistant head coach with Matt Cross for the past three seasons, guiding the Seahawks to a 70-30 record and a trip to the NJCAA national tournament in March, 2011.
Alexander directed the 2011-12 Seahawks squad during an early portion for the season while Cross required a medical leave to address extensive health complications.
Alexander privately submitted his resignation from the Lamar State basketball staff on Mar. 30 —two days after Cross announced that he had ended his tenure with the Seahawks for health reasons.
It was later learned through various sources that athletic director Scott Street had opted not to extend Cross’ two-year head coaching contract which expired at the end of last month.
“I love Matt Cross and he did a great job here,” Alexander said. “I gave some thought to going with Matt (to become head coach at Talladega College).
‘‘Matt deserved to be treated much better than he was treated. I will miss working with Matt very much. I probably could have gone with him but Ranger was a better arrangement for me and my wife and I have a commitment to see that Shondel and Darrian continue and complete their education.”
Stewart averaged 13.8 points a game and 36 total assists. Provost averaged 4.7 ppg with 26 assists and 38 steals.
