New Lady Little Johns coach says size can be overcome

New Lady Little Johns coach RJ Smith cut to the chase the first day of practice. He addressed the team’s weaknesses. “I wrote all three of them on the board the first day of practice: Youth; we have no depth, and we have no size. Then we came up with how we’re going to fix them,” he said. “We’re going to fix depth by being in great condition; we’re going to fix our size problem by we’re going to hit the weight room and get stronger; we’re going to fix our youth by putting in extra practices,” he said. Smith said small groups of players come in for additional practices. Smith is taking the team’s challenges in stride. “They have great attitudes. That’s why it’s easy for me to have a good attitude about it,” he said. “They know their weaknesses, … so we try to work around them and fix them.” Smith has coached girls teams and boys teams, and he makes no bones about which he prefers. “Growing up, I always wanted to coach boys. Man, girls listen way better. And there are no egos,” he said. Smith’s parents live in Greenbrier, and he graduated from South Side Bee Branch High School, where he played basketball. He graduated from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville in 2011 and was a graduate assistant at Northwestern Oklahoma State for one year before becoming full-time assistant coach. Smith then coached girls at Horatio High School and boys basketball in the Fouke School District. “The difference is crazy,” Smith said, laughing. But he thinks it’s crazy in a good way. Smith said five starters graduated last year on a team that ended 13-14 in the 2A-4-West. The three starters for the Lady Little Johns are seniors Jamie Drywater, 5-4; Grace Erdelen, 5-6, a post player; and Shelby Speer, 5-5, who didn’t get much playing time last year, “but she’s going to have to this year,” Smith said. The rest of the players will be coming up from junior high. “We’re small across the board,” Smith said. The inside game will count on Erdelen and two freshman who will move up — Hally Rial, 5-7, and Maddie Stanley, 5-7. “They’re going to have to go inside and play some,” he said. His best outside players will be Jamie and Shelby, plus two more freshmen — Taylor Tippin, 5-4, and Alexis Minnie, 5-3. “We are not very tall; we’re young, and we’re short,” Smith reiterated. However, he said the ninth-graders, if they want to, have a chance to play college ball in the future, as well as sophomore Abigail Gilkey, 5-7. Smith, who will be assisted by Deanna Speers, said the team will face a challenge with Two Rivers and Hector, who made the state finals last year. Speaking of the state tournament, Smith isn’t ruling out his team’s chances. “It’ll be a learning experience early, but I think we can work out the kinks, and by the end of the year, we’ll have a chance to get to regional or possibly the state tournament,” he said.

We’re going to fix depth by being in great condition; we’re going to fix our size problem by we’re going to hit the weight room and get stronger.” RJ SMITH DANVILLE GIRLS COACH