BASKETBALL

PHS' Smith finalist at Star of Stars banquet: Episcopal's Patrick selected top female gymnast

Staff Writer
Plaquemine Post South
Plaquemine's Amber Smith battles against Dutchtown earlier in the season. Smith was selected a finalist for female Athlete of the Year at The Advocate's Star of Stars banquet recently. POST SOUTH PHOTOS/Peter Silas Pasqua

BATON ROUGE - The Advocate's 28th Athlete of the Year/Star of Stars banquet was held Tuesday, May 21.

Twenty-four athletes in 15 high school sports from the Baton Rouge area were honored during the annual event along with the Athlete of Year winners.

Plaquemine's Amber Smith, St. Amant's Toni Rodriquez and St. Joseph's Academy's Morgan Miller were the girls finalists. Darian Claiborne of Port Allen, Brennan Bozeman of Parkview Baptist and Marquise Ricard of Sou­thern Lab were the boys finalists. All six athletes were mu­l­ti-sport standouts in 2012-13. Rodriquez and Claiborne were selected Athletes of the Year.

Smith, a Baton Rouge Community College signee for basketball, competed in four sports, earning all-district honors in three of them. Smith is the daughter of David Smith Jr. and Nicole Smith.

Smith averaged 7.3 kills and 5.2 assists per game in volleyball and 21.6 points and 8.3 rebounds a game in basketball. Smith batted .525 in softball and contributing five home runs and 14 RBIs. In track, she was the District 6-4A champion in the javelin.

Episcopal – Baton Rouge freshmen Raleigh Patrick was also honored as top female gymnast. Patrick is the daughter of Lis Patrick of Plaquemine and Ricky Patrick. She is the granddaughter of Glynn and Betty Jane Hebert and Barbara Patrick and the late Jimmy Patrick.

Patrick placed fourth overall at the LHSAA State Gymnastics Meet.