Sensational Smith Shines for CK

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. - Nothing went according to plan this season for Christ the King. Injuries and underwhelming play forced the Lady Royals’ hand, leading to the call-ups of Bria Smith and Nia Oden in early December, the first freshmen to suit up for the varsity since Clare Droesch in 1998.
The Middle Village powerhouse lost their first league game in eight years, snapping a 108-game win streak, and watched their 23-season string of Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan championships end, too - both defeats coming to Archbishop Molloy.
Finally, by the end of March, CK found its way back to their customary perch. Their best players stood tall in the clutch, and they won another state Federation Tournament of Champions title - a New York-best 15th - after holding off Franklin Academy (Malone, N.Y.), 70-63, for the Class A crown behind 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting from Smith and 15 from senior guard Jael Pena.
Since the second loss to Molloy, Smith had struggled, failing to reach double figures twice after leading the Royals (17-12) in scoring since her arrival. Pena and junior guard Geleisa George (14 points, five steals) picked up the slack, particularly Pena, who scored a season-high 23 points in their semifinal win over Curtis, the PSAL representative.
It was Smith who turned around the final, scoring 16 points in the third quarter, including 12 straight at one point, to erase a six-point deficit. She added five more clutch points in the final stanza. Smith sank baby jumpers, converted offensive rebounds into points and dashed along the baseline - her trademark - for easy lay-ups.
“We were down,” said the tournament’s MVP, “so I just felt like we should get more aggressive.”
“She could be one of the best players we ever had,” Mackey added. “Clare Droesch may be upset with me, but as a freshman she’s got a lot more ability with the ball than Clare.”
Mackey chafed at the notion this title doesn’t measure up to the prior ones considering it was the first time in 17 trips to Glens Falls CK had not competed in the highest classification. Only two girls, Pena and Melissa Wysocki, had previously made the trip upstate, he added, in 2006, when the Tina Charles-led Royals completed an undefeated national championship season by knocking off Murry Bergtraum.
“We won nine out of our last 10 games, which is a nice finish,” he said. “I’m proud of the accomplishment.”
Smith does not want to make a habit out of winning ‘A’ titles. Losing just Pena to graduation while adding talented guard Ariel Edwards, her goal is to be back in ‘AA,’ taking on and beating the best.
“I want to do better next year, much better,” Smith said, adding, “I’m excited to be at Christ the King. We want to keep on with the legacy, bring the (Class AA crown) back next year.”
She should have a lot to do with CK’s future success. The 5-foot-11 guard handled her promotion with grace and blended in with her veteran teammates seamlessly. By March, she was not a freshman anymore, her final game proving that point emphatically.
“In the years to come,” Pena said, “she’ll do even better.”