WINTERBORO – It’s common for a coach to install his or her system when taking a job at a different school. But Sheroderick Smith, the new girls’ basketball coach at Winterboro High School, is doing a whole lot more than just teaching the girls his system.
“Lets just say we’re not rebuilding; we’re building,” Smith said after practice on Thursday.
“These girls here have never had a basketball program of any type of worth. Their record over the last three years I think is like 5-80. That’s like averaging two wins a year and they didn’t win a game last year.”
Rather than installing his brand of basketball, Smith is focused on teaching the players proper technique and how to shoot free throws. While it may sound elementary, Smith said teaching fundamentals is important in order to build a foundation for eventual success.
“What I have found by being here is that these girls, they just don’t know,” Smith said. “I’ve got eight first-year players and only four (returning players). The thing that’s going on here at Winterboro is I’ve got a group of girls that are willing to learn, to go through the tough aspects of basketball, learn that you’re going to play tough teams. Every team is tough when you went (winless) last year.
“If I had to put it in grades, you start with first through 12th grades. We’re in pre-kindergarten.”
While taking over a program that has struggled in the past few years would be a daunting task to most coaches, Smith has already seen progress in the team early this season. The Lady Bulldogs lost to Indian Springs by six points on Nov. 18 and in the process scored 33 points, which is more than they scored in any game last season.
Smith, who came to Winterboro after teaching and coaching at Saks High School in Calhoun County last year, has over eight years of experience in coaching basketball, including some coaching on the college level. While the Lady Bulldogs are working on learning the fundamentals, Smith wanted to encourage Winterboro fans to come out and support not only the Lady Bulldogs, but all the athletes at the school.
“The community, they’ve got to get behind Winterboro athletics, win, lose or draw,” he said. “They’ve just got to.”
And if Smith is right, it might be best to go ahead and start attending now because in a few years seats may be hard to come by.
“We’ve got some young girls that’re going to come up here and Winterboro’s going to be looked at differently in a few years,” he said. “We need our seats to be filled at every game, especially the home games. You’re support is needed. Come and witness history, especially with these girls’ teams.”
Smith can see the potential in his young players, most of whom are playing basketball for the first time, but he’s also realistic about the team’s chances this season.
“I want the girls to learn the knowledge of the game first,” he said. “The wins will come. Athletics is headed the right way. The first year I want the girls to learn the knowledge of the game.”
Smith said Winterboro Athletic Director Adam Fossett has done a good job stressing the importance of all sports at the school, including girls’ basketball.
“The athletic director cares about girls’ athletics and girls’ basketball, which is rare,” Smith said. “People say that they care about it, but they don’t show it. He spoiled me a couple times making sure that I get things I need here. Adam Fossett’s support is really key.”
Smith said it may take a while for the wins to come, but he also stressed the need for support from fans while the Lady Bulldogs are still learning.
“We’re still going to take our lumps now,” Smith said. “We’re going to take our lumps because we’re building. We want the die-hard Winterboro fans. We need the die-hard Winterboro fans win, lose or draw.”
