Izzy Smith knows just how fortunate she is to be a part of Greenwood’s successful girls basketball program. She has been a part of state title teams since her sophomore year.
Now, Smith wants to help Greenwood claim a fourth straight championship when the 5A state tournament that began March 4 at Greene County Tech in Paragould.
“Being a Lady Bulldog has been a dream come true and being able to be a part of two state titles is a feeling that I can’t put into words,” said Smith, a senior guard. “This program is one of the best in the state, and I’m so lucky to have been a part of it.”
But it hasn’t been all rosy for the Lady Bulldogs in the past several months.
Several weeks following the team’s latest state title, longtime coach Clay Reeves announced his retirement after leading Greenwood to eight state titles. The school then tabbed former Bergman coach James Halitzka as Reeves’ replacement.
But before he even coached a single game, Halitzka resigned due to health reasons before the season opener. Ryan Casalman, who had been Greenwood’s boys freshman coach and formerly coached County Line’s girls, then was selected to take over. However, Smith noted Casalman has brought back some stability to the program since coming on board.
“When Coach Casalman came in, we went back to the stuff we knew best and we’ve added new things that have helped us through our season so far,” Smith said. “Coach Casalman has been very supportive towards everyone and I really think he builds up our confidence, which is needed to be able to be successful.”
Upon taking over, Casalman made a key adjustment which greatly affected Smith. The coach decided to move her from point guard to more of a shooting guard role.
“Playing more shooting guard this year was Coach Cass’ idea,” Smith said. “I’ve liked it so far because I get more chances to score off the dribble than I would have playing point.”
Smith has averaged more than 16 points per game and has shot more than 45 percent from the field. In a January game against Mountain Home, she scored a career-high 40 points and was 7-of-13 from the 3-point line. And Greenwood has continued its winning ways. Though they played a very challenging non-conference schedule, the Lady Bulldogs had won 10 of 13 ballgames entering their regular season finale Feb. 28 against Mountain Home.
“The 40-point night against Mountain Home couldn’t have gone better; everything was going my way,” Smith said. “I was getting defensive steals and was having a very good shooting night. I was shooting with confidence on every shot.”
Plus, having been ingrained in Greenwood’s culture of winning from older teammates her previous three years, Smith is now paying it forward for the current crop of underclassmen. Smith got involved in basketball as a third-grader, living in Lamar at the time. The sport has been in her blood ever since and even in the offseason, Smith thinks about basketball.
“I started basketball in the third grade and shortly after, started travel basketball in the fourth and played with the same team all the way up to senior year,” she said. “All I’ve really done my whole life is basketball all year round.”
Well, there is a time of the year where Smith isn’t consumed by basketball.
“I do enjoy going to the beach during the two dead weeks we get a year,” she said.
Smith is still weighing her options beyond her senior season. She hasn’t decided on a college yet, and is not sure she wants to keep playing basketball. Whatever happens, Smith wants to be part of yet another title team in the city known locally as “Titletown.”
“The most important thing for us (to win state again) is to stick together as a team and be able to really rely on each other to do our jobs on offense and defense,” she said.