ROGERS — ROGERS -- MacKenzie Sams only averaged about three points per game this season, but Rogers Heritage basketball coach Tom Olsen said the senior's contribution to the first team to reach the state tournament in school history has been immeasurable.
The 5-foot-9, 130-pound guard even surprised his coach at times.
"We talked this summer about him being a Mike Miller type, a lifter off the bench," Olsen said. "And he's filled that role to a 'T.' Stature-wise he's small, but his love to compete is unmatched. So many times you measure tangible things like height and weight. I know it's an old cliche but the thing you don't measure is how big that kid's heart is.
"You think of the massive kids we're going to play in the 7A-West and you wonder how he can hold up to that. He's fearless. His ability to get things done just by sheer will is incredible. He has fulfilled his role, given us energy, points, steals and rebounds all through this season."
Heritage (16-11) will take on Cabot in the Class 7A state tournament at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in Conway, the first in school history for the boys.
Sams acknowledged he likely gets overlooked at times because of his lack of size, but tries to make sure opponents never forget him.
"Sometimes I go into a game thinking they may think I look small, but I make sure I play as big as I can," Sams said.
Sams showed that grit earlier this season going against 6-foot-3 Bentonville standout Malik Monk. Sams poked the ball away from Monk in the waning seconds of the first quarter and nailed an off-balance 3-pointer to pull his team within 13-12 and give the War Eagles some much-needed momentum.
Sams was just doing his job, Olsen said.
He scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting in Heritage's narrow loss to Springdale High and also had a season-best 12 against Webb City, Mo., in the Arvest Hoopfest. Both times Sams gave the War Eagles that much-needed surge off the bench.
He canned back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter against Webb City to help turn a deficit into a comfortable lead and eventually a victory. It was more of the same against Springdale, making every shot to help Heritage match the league co-champion point for point until falling just short at the end.
Those are contributions that can be measured by numbers, but Sams' other efforts aren't so tangible, Olsen said.
"Some nights you see him play a lot of minutes and some nights not so many minutes, but you never see him not in a game," Olsen said. "If he's on the bench he's in the game. He's the type of kid who knows the score even in practice. Whatever he can do to help us win has always been at the forefront for him."
Sams is a leader by example in practice every day, Olsen said. He pointed to a practice earlier this year when he wasn't pleased with how his post kids were playing weak-side defense.
"I said 'Hey, Kenz get in there and play the five spot in our matchup and show them how to do it,'" Olsen said. "For the next five or six minutes, our JV post kids who were 6-4 and 6-5 couldn't touch the ball. We've got three 6-4 kids who can't keep the ball out of the post, but 5-7 MacKenzie Sams can keep it out of there just on sheer desire."
Sams' basketball IQ is something else that can't be overlooked, Olsen said.
"He is big-time basketball intelligent," Olsen said. "His size and athleticism might not be there, but his mind and his anticipation of what's happening on the court is second to none."
Sports on 03/05/2014