Childers’ Playing Days Ending

BENTONVILLE — Clair Childers had her mind set on playing college basketball until she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee as a freshman.

The Fayetteville guard rehabbed her knee, got back to her old form and improved her jump shot, but her priorities weren’t the same as they were before the injury. She decided that basketball wasn’t going to be a part of her life for much longer.

So instead of being nonchalant Friday, Childers admitted that the thought had crossed her mind that she was about to play her fi nal road game at Bentonville. Her playing days are down to only a few more games.

“Actually, until I tore my ACL I was set on playing college basketball,” Childers said. “And after that, I just decided, you know, that’s not all my life is. I decided not to (play in college), but it’s going to be hard.”

College coaches have expressed interest in signing the 5-foot-7 Childers, who helped Fayetteville make a second consecutive appearance in the Class 7A State Championship Game last March.

After all, the senior has gotten better at creating her own shot and becoming a more committed defender since last season. She’s the Lady Bulldogs leading 3-pointshooter this season, and she has helped pick up the production lost when last year’s leading scorer Sierra Shipley graduated.

“One of the things we knew that was going to happen was (Childers) was going to get even more attention this year after we graduated the really good shooting guards that we had,” Fayetteville coach Bobby Smith said.

“One of the things that Clair has done is I think she’s better off the dribble than she was last year. She’s a lot smarter about going out and getting the shots and getting the open shots.”

A year ago, Childers was more as a spot-up shooter who complimented Shipley and fellow guard Calli Berna. But the senior worked in the offseason on improving her dribble penetration, and thanksto her new role as an aggressive scorer, the Lady Bulldogs (24-2, 10-1 7A-West Conference) are in position to make another deep postseason run.

“I can’t depend on just being wide open anymore, just (teammates) penetrating and kicking to me,” said Childers, who’s averaging around 12 points per game. “So I worked on my stepback 3(-pointer) quite a bit and people getting screens for me and just getting off the screens for open shots.”

Childers said she stayed in the gym “a lot” in the off season, having her motherrebound for her as she worked on improving her jumper. She’d dribble, pull up for a shot and then do it again until it felt right.

Deciding against playing college basketball also felt right for Childers. She said she loves the sport, but is ready to focus on the rest of her life.

“As of right now, she thinks she’s just going to go to school, and obviously the kid could (play college basketball),” Smith said. “I’ve had a lot of people ask me about her. I think she has very pleasant memories of what’s happened, and she’s loved her last two seasons for sure.”