By Staff
Drake, Price and Smith named Honorable Mention All-State
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
Is high school basketball well played in Morgan County? According to the Alabama Sports Writers Association, the answer is yes.
Three local players were named Honorable Mention on the 2004 ASWA All-State basketball team. Lauren Drake of Hartselle High in Class 5A, Maegan Price of Bethel Baptist High in the AISA-Independent class and Tiffany Smith of Priceville High in Class 2A were named to this years' team.
Drake, 5-foot-10-freshman guard-forward, averaged 14.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.0 blocked shots per game. Drake made 49 percent of her shots from the field and 71 percent from the foul line.
"That's great," Drake said. "I'm very surprised to make it as a freshman, I'm real surprised. I feel great that they think I'm good enough to be on the team. I'm looking forward to next year."
Drake's coach Greg Adams thinks her game can improve.
"The sky's the limit for her," Adams said. "I think she will continue to get better, she's a hard worker that's what makes her a great player."
Price, 5-foot-10-sophomore forward, averaged over 20 points per game in leading Bethel Baptist to the Alabama Christian Education Association state title. Price scored 29 points in the semi-final win and 25 more in the state championship game on the way to being named state tourney MVP.
When told of the honor, Price expressed her surprise.
"Oh, my goodness," Price said. "I never thought this would happen to me."
Smith, 5-foot-11-junior forward, averaged 17.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3 steals a game in leading Priceville to 18 wins. Smith shot 47 percent from the field.
"This is a surprise," Smith said. "I've played against some great players like Starr Orr, but I never thought of myself as All-State."
All three players said they want to improve their game. Smith hopes to improve her shooting from behind the three-point line.
Drake, who plays on the softball and volleyball teams at Hartselle, summed up the feeling of all three players.
"I really love basketball," Drake said. "It's where my heart is."