RallyNorth.net

No stopping Owls' Smith

Friday, February, 15 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Drew Smith had a list of excuses at his disposal.

Who could blame the Timberlane Regional senior sharpshooter if he imploded?

His 6-9 center had transferred to prep school. His coach had moved on to a different job in a different state. Smith was left to pick up the pieces for the Owls.

"The coaching change was tough on him I'm sure," said Owls coach Paul Cardone. "We did some talking in the fall. New coach, new system, I just asked him to step up and be a leader."

Smith has responded like a champion, even though the team has struggled.

"I wanted more of a team atmosphere, and he bought into it," said Cardone. "He stepped up vocally and by example. He keeps the guys in line. Drew has carried us most of the way. He's still competing every day. And thanks to him, so is this team."

With Tuesday night's win over Nashua South, the Owls, who returned only two starters from last year's 4-16 squad (Smith and Evan Williams) are in the thick of the Class L playoff hunt.

Smith, who is averaging an area best 21.8 points a game, started off his season red hot when he dumped in 32 points in a season opening loss to Class L-leading Salem.

Complete Eagle-Tribune scoring records go through the 1987-88 season, and in that time only superstar Chris Tardif (24.3 in 2000-01) has had a higher scoring average.

"Scoring wise, I'm having a good year," said Smith, who booted two field goals and caught 18 passes for 248 yards for the football team in the fall. "My teammates are getting me the ball, and I'm just trying to be a leader out there.

"It's been disappointing for the team. I knew we weren't at the top, but we expected to be a little more successful (than 4-12). We haven't gotten any breaks at all, and we've played a lot of close games. We could have easily been .500. Making the playoffs would be huge."

Smith's game on court mirrors his work in the classroom, where he has earned National Honor Society status and is currently ranked 14th in a class of 403 students.

"In both basketball and in school, you have to do the homework," said the 5-foot-10 Smith, who totaled 1,630 on the new three-pronged SAT. "They are definitely similar and I've gotten into the routine of doing the homework right after practice. Success just doesn't happen in either. You have to put in the work."

Smith continues to value his time on the court. His scoring feats are eye-opening | in the last at least 20 years, | Next year, basketball might not be in the plans.

He's applied to UCLA and California-Irvine and is leaning to the West Coast, although he's also considering Bentley and Tufts.

"He hasn't closed the door completely," said Cardone. "Some small part of him wants to play college ball, but his heart may be in California."

"I really haven't been recruited by anyone, and I'm not sure how much I still want to play," said Smith, who averaged 15.6 points a game as a junior. "I have family in California and fell in love with it when I visited. I like the weather. I just liked the whole atmosphere out there."