As the best player on what arguably was the best boys basketball team, Markel Brown drew praise as the state’s best player. It’s now official. He is.
Brown, of undefeated Peabody (Alexandria), was named Mr. Basketball by a statewide panel of Louisiana Sports Writers Association writers. Theresa Plaisance, of Vandebilt Catholic (Houma), won the girls award.
"I'd put Markel in the elite status," said former LSU assistant coach Butch Pierre, who landed Brown for Oklahoma State. "In my years coaching, he's probably in my top three, with the other two being (former LSU standouts and current NBA players) Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas. He's got quickness and speed and athleticism.”
Brown also has a Class 4A state title to his credit, having helped the Warhorses achieve that goal this past season while averaging 32 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots per game.
The 6-foot-5 Brown already was named the outstanding player of the Class 4A All-State team after having been recognized as the most valuable player of District 4-4A.
Plaisance makes herself at home
After a slow start at Vandebilt Catholic, Theresa Plaisance ended her two-year career in glorious fashion with recognition as the state’s Miss Basketball.
Plaisance led Vandebilt Catholic to its first Class 4A state title this past season after having helped the Lady Terriers finish second as a junior. It’s the latest in a host of honors for the 6-5 Plaisance, who is the two-time Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year, a 2010 McDonald’s All-American and the Class 4A outstanding player.
In Vandebilt Catholic’s 70-51 state-title victory over Jennings, she scored a game-high 24 points with 11 rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists to win the game’s outstanding player award.
“It’s been a great year, and it will always be special just because we brought the first basketball championship of any kind to Vandebilt,” Plaisance said. “That means more to me than anything.”
After playing well as a freshman and sophomore guard at Ursuline Academy (New Orleans), Plaisance transferred to Vandebilt Catholic when her mother, DoBee, was named women’s basketball coach at nearby Nicholls State in Thibodaux. Surrounded by new teammates, Plaisance was moved to the post. She eventually found it to her liking and this past season averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots per game as Vandebilt Catholic finished with a school-best 35-1 record.
“My teammates come first to me,” Plaisance said. “This team has been very special, and we’re all so close that we’re like a family.”
Football: Raines takes over reins at Baker
Former Alcorn State quarterback Robert Raines has stepped from the collegiate level and into the prep ranks to become head football coach at Baker.
Raines was the Alcorn State athletic department’s athletic business manager and chief operating officer before accepting his new position. He was the Alcorn State athletic director from 2002-06 and spent two years at Florida A&M as an athletic administrator before returning to Alcorn State in 2008. Raines, 45, will replace Tommy Spillman, who finished 3-14 in two years as Baker’s head coach.
“All the things I’ve heard about Baker are good,” Raines said. “I think with the growth of the Baton Rouge area, you have the chance for some real growth there.”
In his only other stint as a high school head coach, Raines spent four years at Natchez (Miss.), where led his team to an 11-3 record and a spot in the South State Championship game in 1997. A native of Greenwood, Miss., Raines played quarterback at Alcorn State from 1982-85. He later served as an assistant coach in Mississippi at Greenwood, Biloxi and North Natchez high schools.
Dees adjusting to new role
Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport) has yet to name a permanent replacement for former head football coach John Bachman, who stepped down last month nearly three months after the Eagles won the Class 2A state title in his third season.
Phillip Deas was appointed the interim head coach after Bachman’s departure, and Deas is hopeful he can experience some of the same success he did as an All-American quarterback for the Eagles. Deas was head coach at Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.) before returning to his alma mater, which has won 12 state football championships.
"Just like I told the kids, the one thing that will follow you all your life is change,” Deas said. “Whenever you learn how to deal with, and embrace change, you're learning one of the greatest lessons you can ever learn."
Deas has several staff positions to fill and said he has been besieged with resumes and phone calls.
“We're starting to weed through those so we can get a head start,” he said. “We have our eye on some people."
Softball: Freshman finds perfection
Buckeye (Deville) freshman pitcher Kelsea Wallace threw a perfect game in her team’s 11-0 victory over Bunkie in its final District 3-3A softball game.
Wallace, a right-hander, struck out 14 of the 15 batters she faced threw five innings. Buckeye played errorless ball in support of Wallace, who didn’t walk anyone and delivered a two-run single at the plate. Wallace hiked her record to 12-2, as Buckeye improved to 22-4 overall and 8-1 in district. As an eighth-grader last season, Wallace pitched mostly in relief.
