High School Sports

Laneville guard Marcus Anderson and Martins Mill post Jordan Barncastle were named players of the year in their respective classifications by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

Anderson and Barncastle both led their teams to state championships earlier this month.

Anderson, a senior who averaged more than 24 points per game, carried Laneville to the Class A Division II title, the Yellowjackets' first since winning back-to-back championships in 1992-93.

He scored 43 points in Laneville's regional-final win over district rival Avinger and surpassed 20 points in both games in Austin. Laneville beat Goodrich, 56-50, in the championship game.

Barncastle, a Texas Tech signee, led the Lady Mustangs to their second state title in two years.

She was named Most Valuable Player of the state tournament after combining for 44 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in two games.

Barncastle was named the Tyler Morning Telegraph's All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore.

Other boys players of the year were North Crowley's Willie Warren in 5A, Fort Worth Southwest's Kendall Timmons in 4A, Burkburnett's Desmond Strickland in 3A, Ponder's Nathan McPherson in 2A and Thorndale's Brandon Irwin in 1A Division I.

Warren, who has signed with Oklahoma, is a McDonald's All-American and helped North Crowley win its first state title over Fort Bend Dulles.

North Crowley defeated defending state champion Duncanville in the Region I semifinals and finished third in the final National Prep Poll.

Also named players of the year in girls were Houston Cypress Fairbanks' Nneka Ogwumike (5A), Dickinson's Brianna Hypolite (4A), Kennedale's Destini Hughes (3A), Hemphill's Shamika Singleton (2A), Kennard's Erica Adair (1A Division II), Argyle Liberty Christian's Whitney Hand (large private schools) and Marble Falls Faith's Ashley Fields (small private schools).

The players of the year will be recognized at a banquet at 6 p.m. May 2 at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio.

The TABC All-Star game will be May 3 at Trinity University, where the TABC will name Mr. and Miss Basketball.

The 1A-3A girls game will be played at 2:30 p.m., the 4A-5A girls game at 4:15 p.m., the 1A-3A boys game at 6 p.m. and the 4A-5A boys game at 7:45 p.m.

- Chase Colston