Joplin basketball player Fred Taylor and Carthage basketball player Lauren Choate have been named the Zimmer Marketing Male and Female Athletes of the Week for the week ending Jan. 11 brought to you by JL Mobile Truck and Trailer Repair.
Taylor, a junior, was instrumental in Joplin’s second-place finish in the Kaminsky Classic over the weekend. Earning all-tournament team honors, Taylor averaged 16 points, three assists and nearly three rebounds a game. He had a 27-point outburst in the semifinal round against Poplar Bluff.
“Fred did a nice job on both ends of the floor throughout the tournament,” Joplin coach Nick Pfeifer said. “I thought he did a great job of getting by his initial defender and then attacking the rim and making good decisions once in the paint. While a great and explosive athlete, I am most pleased with his improved ability to control the game and make the eight basketball plays.”
Choate, a senior, entered history last Tuesday when she surpassed 1,000-career points with a layup in the second quarter. Choate finished the game with 15 points and four assists.
“She is a great person on and off the court who has developed into a vocal leader for our program. I know a lot of younger players look up to her because of talents on the court and she takes that role model job seriously. I’m very proud of her for achieving this career milestone and look forward to a great finish to her senior season.”
Coaches can nominate students for the Zimmer Marketing Athletes of the Week by emailing the athlete’s name, sport/position, stats or accomplishments for the previous week to sports@zrimarketing.com on Monday.