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H-F needs Lamar registers win in first SLC tournament appearance in four years coach, too OnLAMAR 76, NORTHWESTERN ST. 69 to semifinals n KATY Interim coach who By Christopher Dabe took team to playoffs is In recent seasons, this might returning to his position have been a game Lamar loses. But in recent seasons, Lamar at the middle school. never was good enough to FANNETT qualify for the Southland Con- ference tournament. By Jared Ainsworth Playing its first league tourna- ment game in four years, Lamar Keith Neal said he simply used a late-game run to beat drove the bus and watched. Northwestern State 76-69 to That’s his take on leading the advance to the league semifinal Hamshire-Fannett boys bas- round. The Cardinals (21-11) ketball team to its first playoff will play Stephen F. Austin at appearance and 6:05 p.m. today at the Merrell postseason win Center in Katy. since 2000 after he Against Northwestern State was named interim head coach in (16-16), Lamar led by 13 points December. early in the second half but For Neal, it was trailed by four with less than 3 a one-year experi- minutes left. After a basket by ence as he is now senior Charlie Harper, senior Keith Neal back at Hamshire- Mike James scored the tying Fannett Middle School as boys and go-ahead baskets on suc- basketball coach, a job he’s held cessive trips down the floor. for 10 years. That sparked a game-ending “All of the credit has to go 15-4 run in which Lamar went to the kids,” Neal said. “I just 7-for-9 in free throws. watched.” “We’ve had a lot of good first And he did on occasion drive halves with good leads, and the team’s bus to tournaments for some reason we gets loose and games. and we get complacent and let The 54-year-old Neal became teams back in the games,” said the interim coach when Anthony Pat Knight, Lamar’s first-year DeCello resigned in early De- coach. “And then instead of cember, a month into the season. quit, these guys come back. I Even then, Neal told the district wish we would do it from the he wanted to return to his middle start and it wouldn’t be that school job following the season. dramatic.” Along with coaching, he’s also a Lamar’s 21 victories now are seventh and eighth grade math the most since it won 26 games teacher. in the 1983-84 season. Lamar “This campus is great,” Neal last won a Southland tourna- said. “My house is paid for here ment game in 2007, toward the in Hamshire. I love this area. If I end of former coach Steve Roc- go up there and it doesn’t work caforte’s first season. out, then I’ve got to find a job Lamar plays today for its first somewhere else. If I was 35 or 40 trip to a conference title game I might would pursue it.” since it won the tournament Neal and the Longhorns title in 2000 and advanced to endured a dramatic end to the the NCAA tournament. season after falling to West In reaching today’s semifinal game, James led the Cardinals H-F, page 2B in scoring with 21 points. Senior Anthony Miles added 16, Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle Lamar forward Stan Brown celebrates after the Cardinals victory over the Northwestern State De- LAMAR, page 2B mons in a Southland Conference tournament game at the Merrell Center in Katy. A&M tops

nOklahoma Aggies advance in Big 12 basketball tournament, will play No. 3 Kansas next. Lamar fan By Brent Zwerneman Jean Dun- can cheers Texas A&M point guard Dash her team on Harris called his teammates against the together late against Oklahoma Northwestern on Wednesday, and the on-court State Demons huddle featured five players, including guard Khris Middle- during the ton, A&M fans had hoped would second half of carry this team throughout the a Southland season. Conference Injuries had sidelined the tournament experienced duo of Harris and game at the Middleton for chunks of the Merrell Center season, however, so the group on Wednes- hug of five talented veterans day. Lamar — including forwards David won the game Loubeau and Ray Turner and 76-69. guard Elston Turner — offered a rare sight. And a welcome one for A&M fans following the Aggies’ 62-53 victory over the Sooners in the opening round of the Big 12 Loyal fans follow trail of red, Knights to Lamar tournament. COMMENTARY lies more with the family of her wardrobe, with exception “We’ve had our whole group Lamar coach Pat Knight and of the one season Pat Knight together except Kourtney Rober- ean Duncan shouts when his father, Bob, than with any wore blue and gold as an assis- son for the last (few) weeks, and her favorite team scores. school. tant coach at Akron. And even you get better in practice that JShe puts her hand to her She is part of a small fac- then, she doesn’t remember way,” A&M first-year coach Billy mouth when things get tense. tion of former Indiana fans wearing something other than Kennedy said. Like many of the red-clad she said is proud to fashion red at those games. It showed against OU, and fans at the Merrell Center, the themselves as proud Lamar But color coordination is ninth-seeded A&M’s prize is a 59-year-old blond-haired Dun- supporters after the Cardinals not what makes her a fan of the collision with top-seeded Kansas can’s mood changed with each Christopher Dabe beat Northwestern State 76-69 Knights. Nor is it the reason she (26-5) at 2 p.m. today. momentum swing in Lamar’s on Wednesday in a league left her Louisville home Friday “We feel confident because nerve-fraying victory Wednes- red,” she said. quarterfinal. for Beaumont to bring the we’ve played Kansas close,” day in the Southland Confer- More specifically, she has That the Knights have spent players cookies and cupcakes Elston Turner said. “We feel like ence tournament. always followed the Knight a majority of Duncan’s col- before they board the team bus we can beat them. It’s going to be This is her first season sup- family. lege basketball-following days or greet them in the hotel lobby tough, but I feel like with the way porting the Cardinals. Duncan is a 1976 Indiana wearing red — at Indiana and when the return from games — everything is going we can get But this is not her first season graduate from the small south- Texas Tech before Lamar — is the reasons they call her the win.” sporting red. ern Indiana town of Salem, and only a matter of convenience. “I’ve always followed the her loyalty She has not had to overhaul FANS, page 2B A&M, page 6B

Jon Styf, Sports Editor, [email protected], (409) 838-2839; Section designed and copy edited by Dennis Meloncon, [email protected] 2B Thursday, March 8, 2012 BeaumontEnterprise.com

College basketball TV schedule A&M, at Kansas City, Mo. ESPN2 — Big Ten Conference, first 1:30 p.m. FSN women’s Big 12 Con- round, Purdue vs. Nebraska, at 11 a.m. ESPN — Big East Confer- ference, quarterfinal, teams TBD, at Indianapolis ence, quarterfinal, Syracuse vs. Ex-catcher an asset Kansas City, Mo. 6:10 p.m. MyTx Lamar vs. Stephen West Virginia-UConn-DePaul winner, 4 p.m. ESPN2 — Big Ten Confer- F Austin, Katy at New York ence, first round, Northwestern vs. 7:30 p.m. FSN — women’s Big 12 11:30 a.m. ESPN2 — Big 12 Con- Minnesota, at Indianapolis Conference, quarterfinal, Texas A&M to Astros bullpen By Zachary Levine ference, quarterfinal, Kansas St. vs. 5 p.m. FSN — women’s Big 12 vs. Kansas, at Kansas City, Mo. Baylor, at Kansas City, Mo. Conference, quarterfinal, Oklahoma 8 p.m. ESPN — Big East Confer- Almost everything 1 p.m. ESPN — Big East Confer- vs. Oklahoma St.-Missouri winner, at ence, quarterfinal, Notre Dame vs. about David Carpenter’s ence, quarterfinal, Cincinnati vs. Kansas City, Mo. USF-Rutgers-Villanova winner, at transformation(s) from Georgetown-St. John’s-Pittsburgh 6 p.m. ESPN — Big East Confer- New York minor league catcher to winner, at New York ence, quarterfinal, Marquette vs. 10:30 p.m. FSN — Pac-12 Confer- major league pitcher was 1:30 p.m. ESPN2 — Big 12 Confer- Louisville-Seton Hall-Providence win- ence, quarterfinal, Oregon vs. Colo- complete. ence, quarterfinal, Kansas vs. Texas ner, at New York 7:30 p.m. rado-Utah winner, at Los Angeles Therewasjustonemore little big league detail to work out. So at the end of last year, Carpenter went to Astros clubhouse and equip- ment manager Carl Sch- neider and said he wanted a big league number. Not just to get off his back that 67 — the number fitting a spring training greenhorn — but to get back to the Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle No. 28 that he wore as an Houston’s David Carpen- amateur. ter pitches at the Astros “It feels like a big league spring training complex number and that I’m defi- at Osceola County Sta- nitely part of something,” dium on Tuesday, in Kis- Carpenter said. “67 was simmee, Fla. the first number I got to wear. It’s nice to have a Luhnow said the Cardi- little bit more recogniz- nals called other clubs able number, not a line- and would trade him to a man number.” team willing to give him a Now the reliever built chance to hit. like a wide receiver has a When nobody bit ex- running back number and cept as a mound conver- he’s right that he’s part of sion prospect, the Cardi- something. nals did it themselves in He doesn’t feel like it’s a 2008 and kept Carpenter guaranteedspotonthe25- until August 2010 when manrosteraftercompiling they sent him to Houston a 2.93 ERA in 34 appear- for what turned out to be a ances last year. Rather he’s very unproductive month part of the competition for of Pedro Feliz. Lamar guard Mike James tries to knock the ball away from Northwestern State guard Louis Ellis during the second jobs in the crowded Astros What separated Car- half of a Southland Conference Tournament game at the Merrell Center on Wednesday in Katy. bullpen race. penter from the big While Jeff Luhnow, who leagues was, as it was told drafted him in St. Louis to him, a quarter of a pitch LAMAR: and was actually the one — a quarter of the slider. ‘We want to win because we want to win’ to inform Carpenter that “It was something I had Continued from page 1B Mike McConathy said. he was being switched to but I didn’t use it as much Southland Conference Men’s tournament Lamar now has a four- catcher, mentionedhimas as they would have liked,” Harper 14 and senior De- a closing candidate were Carpenter said of his mi- von Lamb 12. Stan Brown game winning streak, the Wednesday’s games last loss coming Feb. 22 at Brett Myers not to make nor league repertoire. “I pulled down 10 rebounds the move, Carpenter takes talked with (special as- home against SFA — to- with three blocks, includ- No. 2 Stephen F. Austin 68, No. 7 Sam Houston St., 46 nothing for granted. sistant and then pitching ing one in the final minutes No. 3 Lamar 76. No. 6 Northwestern St. 69. day’s opponent — which “You really can’t,” he coach Doug Brocail) a that helped Lamar on its No. 1 UT-Arlington 96 No. 8 Nicholls St. 48 preceded Knight’s pre- said. “It’s something you little bit about it and heard game-ending run. No. 4 McNeese St. vs. No. 5 UTSA, late meditated and nationally- have to work for espe- that I had 13/4 of a pitch. Most critical during that viewed rant that seemed to cially a guy in my shoes The fastball was there and run were the baskets by Today’s games kick start this team. where nothing’s guaran- the slider was there part of James, first to tie the score “Do we want to beat them teed. You’ve got to earn the time.” and then to put Lamar up SFA vs. Lamar, 6:05 p.m. because of that?” Miles said your spot every single year Once that became a 67-65 with about 90 sec- UTA vs. McNeese St./UTSA winner, 8:33 p.m. swing-and-miss pitch, he in reference to the rant. “No. and that’s the way I’ve ap- onds left. proached it just to come was deemed ready, and “I knew I wantedto shoot Saturday’s game We want to win because we into camp ready to throw that got him to 29 strike- them, and I knew if I got the want to win. Semifinal winners, 2 p.m. and ready to compete for outs and only six unin- opportunity, I was going to “But at the same time a job.” tentional walks in 272/3 in- take them,” said James, a it would be fitting if we It’s almost surely a bet- nings in the big leagues. first-team all-conference win tomorrow knowing the ter position than he’d be Now he’s in good posi- player this season. “I feel fant twin sons unexpect- straight points during in if he were still a catch- tion in the stable of right- edly died Saturday night Northwestern State’s 17-1 situation that happened. like if I get it in the right spot We’re just trying to go out er — his position when ies, which also features and if I get enough room, at a Houston hospital. The run that put Lamar in a 52- Myers, Brandon Lyon, there and play Lamar bas- Luhnow scouted the West I’m going to take it.” 6-foot-7 Mosley ended the 48 deficit with less than 9 Virginia product at an east Wilton Lopez, Fernando Lamar played the game game with 22 points and minutes left. ketball and do what our coast tryout and drafted Rodriguez, perhaps mul- with black patches with a nine rebounds, nearly lift- But in the last 3 minutes, coach is asking us to do.” him in the 12th round of tiple losers of the starting white No. 42 as a tribute to ing his team past Lamar in “we were a little winded, the 2006 draft. derby and Rule 5 intrigue Northwestern State senior the second half. which is not normal for us,” [email protected] He plodded along at his with the hard-throwing William Mosley, whose in- Mosley scored nine Northwestern State coach Twitter.com/cmdabe desired position for 21 Rhiner Cruz. 2 years, hitting .206, un- He takes with him to til Luhnow came to him the competition, 34 games with something not-so- worth of lessons hoping FANS: revolutionary. for many more. Though an Indiana graduate, she once went to Purdue Inspired by the success “There are going to Continued from page 1B of his compassion shown self a person of principle. event she calls a highlight of catcher-turned-pitcher be days when you go out for former player Landon Loyalty begets loyalty. So of her life. Jason Motte, who played a there and get your butt “Mama Jean.” Turner. when the end neared for “She’s part of the family,” vital role in the Cardinals’ kicked,” Carpenter said There was once a time Turner starred on Knight at Indiana, she Pat Knight said. 2011 World Series run, when asked the primary when she had the same Indiana’s 1981 national chose the Knights. Duncan is three years Luhnow and others saw lesson. unpleasant view she championship team but She shifted her fundrais- the big arm and made the “There are going to suspects most others had removed from losing her never played again after a ing efforts from Indiana to only child, a son named change. be days when you go out — and many still have — there and do really well. car accident later that year Texas Tech, raising enough John, to a heart attack. “I had seen him throw of . And who left him a quadriplegic. to present the Lubbock- out runners with an arm They’re big league hitters could blame her? She was He was 33. She views the that was just incredible for a reason; they’re the Once considered a sure- based university with a Lamar players as her boys. a Purdue student at the fire NBA player, he would check for $100,000. She and knew that there was best at their profession She’s not interested in run- time. never walk again. organized plane and bus a pretty good chance,” just like as a pitcher you If you don’t know much “I took note of how trips for Midwest-based ning any more fundrais- Luhnow said. “The arm like to think you’re the about Indiana and Purdue, coach Knight went all over fans to attend games ers or changing people’s strength that we saw from best at your profession.” just ask a Port Neches- Indiana championing throughout the Big 12, minds about the Knights. Carpenter was very simi- And now he has a num- Groves fan what they think Landon Turner’s cause so much like she did with They’ll think what they lar to what we saw from ber that says that, too. of Nederland. Or Texas he would never have to Indiana in the Big Ten. want. Motte.” about A&M. You get the work,” Duncan said. “He Knight showed his ap- She’s an Indiana girl When Carpenter of- [email protected] picture. never could pull down preciation by inviting her proud of her basketball fered some resistance, Twitter.com/ZacharyLevine But she later transferred another rebound or score to be among the 20-some team. And for one more to Indiana, and her affin- a point for him, and he did people to have dinner with day, that’s all that matters. ity for Knight grew. Not that. That’s what you call him on the evening he because of the champion- loyalty.” set the all-time Division I [email protected] H-F: ‘I was just kind of lucky’ ships won, but because Duncan considers her- record for victories. It’s an Twitter.com/cmdabe Continued from page 1B ketball banner in this gym and we’re in a basketball Orange-Stark in its second gym,” he said. “You guys TIMELINE Simmons starts stomping his feet and falls in. Harper pumps both to last game. H-F lost its fi- have the potential to put a to make noise on the Merrell Center fists, slaps hands with James and nal game to Hardin-Jeffer- banner in here but you’ve son on Feb. 14, but when A timeline from Lamar’s game bleachers with several other Lamar then sinks a free throw. Lamar trails got to believe it.” WO-S lost to Orangefield Wednesday at the Southland Confer- fans after James hits a 3-pointer to by 1 with 4 minutes left. The one-year experi- ence tournament at the Merrell put Lamar up 29-19 late in the first a three-way tie was set up Lamar’s James is cold- ence also gave Neal more Center in Katy. half. 4:07 for the final playoff spot blooded. Like he’s shooting in a between H-F, WO-S and insight to basketball at the Lamar starters take turns 2:30 3:05 After Miles comes up with a driveway, he pulls up along the right Orangefield. high school level, and he hugging Northwestern State’s Wil- loose ball, Charlie Harper puts up his baseline and swishes the go-ahead H-F (22-14) won that said it will benefit the mid- liam Mosley near midcourt before hand as though to tell Miles to slow points, giving Lamar a lead it never dle school program. the opening tip. Mosley’s twin infant tiebreaker four days later. down. That’s an impressive sign of relinquishes. And the Longhorns beat H-F hasn’t yet posted sons died Saturday after being hos- maturity for a Lamar team that strug- the opening. Neal hopes pitalized since they were born last 4:11 With Harper back at the Cleveland 85-69 in the gles at times to be patient. Pat Knight first round three days after the next coach is as March 20. On Lamar’s uniform near said this team is finally understanding free throw line, this time to shoot fortunate as he was. The game-securing free throws in the that. H-F lost to Navasota the right shoulder is a black patch what the coaches want. At this point, Longhorns will return all- final minute, James walks claps and in the area round. with Mosley’s No. 42 in white. it shows. District 21-3A performers smiles as he walks near midcourt. The drama began 2:37 Lamar is pushing the ball in Darius Riley and Jordan 3:35 After Lamar commits a shot- He glances at the scoreboard. This well before then when transition and scoring quickly. The Brown, among others. clock violation, Mosley completes a game is all but over. the team lost three of six Cardinals go up 9-2 on a lob pass 3-point play for Northwestern State games at the East Cham- “Whoever the new from Anthony Miles to Devon Lamb, on the other end, making a strong 4:18 Knight briefly raises his bers tournament in late coach ends up being, who is fouled as he dunks and move along the baseline before fist as Lamar assistant coaches December. A day follow- he’s going to have a good then makes the free throw after a sinking a free throw. That cuts and players turn to the red-clad ing the tournament, Neal returning class,” Neal timeout. Lamar fans begin the “L-U” Lamar’s lead, once at 13 points, to Cardinals fans seated behind them pulled the players into H- said. “Hopefully tradition chant. 47-46. Mosley scores Northwestern to clap in appreciation for their sup- F’s gym and sat them in a has started and will carry 2:47 Lamar gets a little sloppy. State’s next six points after that to port. Lamar advances to the next circle. He pointed at the on. I was just kind of lucky Stan Brown throws the ball away, put his team up 52-48 with about 9 round. walls and made them no- to be there. I was there for over Mike James’ head and beyond minutes left. tice what was missing. the ride.” midcourt for an over-and-back. 3:59 Harper collides into Mosley, [email protected] “There are a lot of ban- 2:54 Lamar president Jimmy puts up shot that rolls on the rim Twitter.com.cmdabe ners around here but [email protected] there’s not one boys bas- Twitter.com/JaredAinsworth