Jordon Harris was the best player on the court Wednesday night. His Lamar State College-Port Arthur coach even said so.
Harris scored a career-high 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists in the Seahawks 95-87 win over the Lee College Rebels.
“Last season they got us both times and I didn’t like that,” Harris said. “We had to come out tonight and do whatever it took to get the win. It is a big win. It set the tone for us the rest of the way in conference. I knew it was time to go. When we got down eight, I didn’t want to go down 10. I decided to get the ball and take over.”
The Rebels (13-8, 5-5) went up 52-44 with 15:33 left in the game after a 6-0 run. LaDarrius Chester capped the stretch with a jumper.
LSC-PA (13-7, 5-4) started to chip away at the lead aided by a three from Freddie Williams and two free throws from Nederland graduate Colton Weisbrod gave the Seahawks the lead for good at 56-54 with 10:43 on the clock.
Weisbrod ended the night with 26 points, 10 boards and three assists. Freddie Williams Jr. added 11 points and 10 boards and Ozen graduate Damasters Sam put in 10 points with three assists.
Williams set the tone early with his hustle on the offensive glass. He skied high for a rebound early in the game and dished to Weisbrod for a layup to give the Seahawks a 16-12 lead.
It was this type of hustle Williams knew the Seahawks needed to overtake the very talented Rebels.
“Coach told us our two goals tonight were the war in the paint and transition defense,” Williams said. “I knew if we fought in the paint we could get them.”
LSC-PA won the rebounding category 40-36 over Lee who was led by 28 points from Andre Edwards. Tony Farmer chipped in 21 points and Branden Jenkins had 14.
Jenkins and teammate Duop Reath (six points, six rebounds) are both committed to play at LSU after this season with the Rebels.
No matter the big time Division I recruits, Madison thought he had the two best players on the court at the Carl Parker Center.
“I thought we had the best outside player in Jordon Harris and the best inside player in Colton Weisbrod,” Madison said. “They proved that tonight.”
Both teams shot 7 of 14 from behind the arc and near 50 percent from the field. LSC-PA picked up the shooting in the second half after netting 39 percent in the first half.
The Seahawks shot 64 percent in the second half and were 24 of 31 from the free throw line.
“I thought tonight we did a good job making good decisions,” Madison said. “We have been talking week about not giving them second and third opportunities. I thought we did that tonight.”
This the first time the Seahawks have been above .500 in Region XIV play this season. LSC-PA hits the road Saturday to face Jacksonville College at 4 p.m.