ROGERS - Xavier Smith wanted to do everything possible to make his senior basketball season at Rogers High a special one.
Smith played in all but four games last season, mainly as a backup guard as the Mounties qualified for the Class 7A State Tournament, and he knew he would be counted on heavily as a senior.
He worked hard in the offseason on his game, but it was on a hot summer day when he realized he could do something else to help his game.
“I was dropping my brother (Sterling) off at cross country practice, and I saw that if I ran cross country that it would be a better chance to get in better shape for basketball,” Smith said. “I had never run more than two miles before, but I decided to give it a try because it was a new challenge.”
Smith quickly got the OK to run cross country from basketball coach Wayne Herren, and he said the decision was a good one. He juggled cross country and off season basketball and is in the best shape of his life, he said.
Rogers (6-5) opens 7A/6AWest Conference play tonight when Springdale High visits King Arena. The Lady Mounties (3-8) will play at around 6 p.m., with the Mounties and Bulldogs to follow. Smith has started all 11 games and leads the Mounties in assists (28) and steals (25) while averaging four points and two rebounds a game.
“We ran five miles in practice, so it was tough,” Smith said. “But I believe I’m in really good shape.”
After Herren was hired following the 2011-2012 season, he heard that Smith was not going to play basketball his junior year. Herren quickly set out to change that decision.
“I got in touch with him and got him to come back out,” he said. “Xavier is a tremendous leader. And what I think speaks most about him is that he is leading our team in charges taken. Smallest guy on the floor, and he is leading usin charges. Heart of a lion.”
Smith said logging considerable playing time as a junior has helped his development as the Mounties’ fl oor leader.
“Playing last year really helped me with my confidence,” he said. “It gave me the confidence that I could play at this level. It gave me a lot of good experience that you need to play in this conference. You have to bring the same intensity every game, and play smart as well.
“I see myself as a facilitator, making sure each guy gets his shot. Hopefully, I can set the guys up to get shots, and score points. I feel like we have a good chance to make state again.”
Springdale (8-3) is favored to win the conference championship, but the Bulldogs have lost three of their last four games entering tonight’s game. Herren said the Mounties will have to be fundamentally sound to upset Springdale.
“We are going to have to limit Springdale to one shot, if we can,” Herren said. “Springdale really hurts people when they get multiple shots per possession.”
Sports, Pages 8 on 01/10/2014