RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech senior forward Ayana Walker earned the state Player of the Year title by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association women's basketball team released today as a result of voting by SID's and media members statewide.
Palestine-Wheatley freshman, Erica Smith, was named the Freshman of the Year for Louisiana.
Walker earned the top honor as well as first team all-state accolades after averaging 13.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots a game while leading the Lady Techsters to a 25-5 record, the 2002 Western Athletic Conference title and the NCAA Tournament.
The Houston, Texas, native is also a finalist for the Kodak All-America team.
Smith earned her second Freshman of the Year honors (named Co-Freshman of the Year in the WAC) after a rookie campaign that saw her average 7.9 points and 2.6 rebounds a game.
The Palestine native scored in double digits 10 times while also recording 52 assists and 13 blocks.
Smith helped lead the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots to the 2001 Class AA state title and was named Ms. Basketball, an annual award given to the best female high school player in Arkansas.
Junior center Cheryl Ford was named to the second team while sophomore guard Amber Obaze and senior guard Brooke Lassiter both earned third team honors.
Ford, who was named the 2002 WAC Player of the Year, averaged 11.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game while recording 10 double doubles for Tech.
The Summerfield, La., native led the Lady Techsters in scoring eight times and rebounding 11 times during the season.
Obaze earned her third team honors after averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals in 2001-02.
The Dallas, Texas, native, who also is a finalist for the Kodak All-America team, scored in double digits 21 times while leading Tech with four 20-plus point performances.
Lassiter, from Portland, Ark., was a third team selection after averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
She led Tech in free throw percentage (95 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (38 percent) while starting all 30 games at the two-guard spot.
The senior finished her Tech career as the NCAA Division I leader in free throw percentage at 91.5 percent.
LSU's Sue Gunter earned the Coach of the Year honors while Tiger center Aiysha Smith was the Newcomer of the Year.
Tech led all state programs with four members on either the first, second or third teams.
The 2002 Lady Techsters Appreciation Banquet will be held Tuesday, April 16, at 7 p.m. at the Tech Student Center.
Tickets are $16 each or $225 for a sponsor table of eight.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call the 255-7950 or the Tech Ticket Office at 257-3631.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It was a another rainy weekend, but apparently not rainy enough to put a damper on today's scheduled golf and softball games at Wynne.
At press time, the Forrest City Lady Mustang softball team were still scheduled to play the Wynne Lady Yellowjackets in a nonconference matchup beginning at 4 p.m. at the Wynne Sports Complex.
The Mustang golf team will tee it up at 3:30 p.m., at Crowley's Ridge Country Club.
Forrest City returned to session today after being off last week for Spring Break.
The softball team has not played since March 21 and the golf team has been idle for two weeks.
The Lady Mustangs will play at West Memphis Tuesday and the Mustang baseball team will travel to Blytheville.
The junior high track teams are scheduled to run at West Memphis.
Palestine-Wheatley's Lady Patriots softball team are scheduled to play at Woodlawn Tuesday.
A men's and women's Class D and below softball tournament will be held Saturday, April 13, at the Forrest City Sports Complex.
The double-elimination tournament is being sponsored by the H&J team from Wynne and McCrory.
Entry fee per team is $125 and the tourney will follow ASA rules, but is not an ASA sanctioned event.
For more information call Guy Brown at (870) 731-1216 or Andy Wallis (870) 238-4399.
There is no deadline to enter the tournament.
* PREP SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Tuesday, April 2
Forrest City at Blytheville, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3
Clarendon at Palestine-Wheatley, 4 p.m.
FAST PITCH SOFTBALL
Monday, April 1
Forrest City at Wynne, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 2
Forrest City at West Memphis, 4 p.m.
Palestine-Wheatley at Woodlawn, 4 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Monday, April 1
Forrest City at Wynne, 3:30 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH TRACK
Tuesday, April 2
Forrest City at West Memphis
(Junior boys, Junior girls)