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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2009

Family ties spark Dublin’s drive to title game victory

Ben Smith could have taken it easy Saturday.

After all, in just a few days, his Jacksonville University basketball team will be playing in the first round of the NIT with its destination currently unknown.

But Smith couldn’t shake the sound of his cousin’s voice all week.

“I need you here, I need you here,” Smith’s cousin, Rashard Smith, said almost begging on a daily basis lead up to Saturday. “I need you to be here for me.”

Rashard Smith didn’t need to plead so hard. There was very little that would have kept Ben Smith from the Macon Coliseum on Saturday, not even an early morning practice in Jacksonville, Fla., a five-hour drive to Macon, a five-hour drive back and another early morning practice today.

Getting a late start to his trip, Ben Smith didn’t arrive at the Coliseum until the third quarter of Dublin’s GHSA Class AA title game against Blessed Trinity. It turns out, he was right on time to witness the good stuff.

Dublin built a double-digit lead in the third quarter, and while there were a few tense moments provided by Blessed Trinity, most of the second half was merely a formality as the Irish went on to win their first state title since Ben Smith accomplished the same feat with Dublin in 2006.

Watching from the stands, however, proved to be a harrowing experience for Ben Smith. He’s used to being on the court with the ball in his hands and the game on his shoulders.

“I was nervous,” Ben Smith said. “When I’m playing, it could be a one-point game with 10 seconds left, and I wouldn’t be nervous. But watching them, you just want them to do everything right, and when they don’t, you want to hide. But they came through. He showed what a true warrior he is.”

Ben and Rashard Smith have an extremely close relationship despite the distance that is usually between them. They talk on the phone every day and stay in constant contact.

The relationship is an obvious means of support off the court, but it might be one of the biggest reasons why Rashard Smith was able to carry around the AA championship trophy after Saturday’s game.

During the summer, Ben Smith brought about seven of his Jacksonville teammates to Dublin for a visit. Dublin head coach Marvin Latham got his team together and opened up the gym. The Irish were in for a lesson they would carry with them through the season.

“They absolutely waxed our butts,” Latham said. “I tell you, it paid dividends. It showed those guys how to play. It ain’t all about running up and down the court. Sinking your butt down, playing defense, running the offense to a T; the small things that we needed to get to this point, those guys showed them back in the summer.”

Perhaps it should be no surprise that the Smith family was a key to Dublin’s success this year. Rashard Smith, who signed a football scholarship with N.C. State in February, comes from a long line of athletic success.

Rashard Smith’s brother, Quintez, was a Georgia Sports Writers Association all-state football player of the year and played at Middle Tennessee State. Rashard Smith’s father and uncle both played college basketball, and Ben Smith was the state basketball player of the year in 2006.

Talk about pressure to succeed.

“Pressure busts pipes, but pressure also makes diamonds,” Rashard Smith said.

Any pressure Rashard Smith felt formed a sparkling four-year high school career.

On top of Saturday’s title win, Rashard Smith also has one previous state basketball championship and a co-state football title from 2006.

On the court, he scored 12 points and recorded 11 assists during Saturday’s title win, passing his averages for his senior season at 11 points and seven assists per game.

Last year, he was the only player in any classification to be named to all-state teams in both football and basketball. He also is a two-time AA defensive player of the year as a defensive back who recorded 20 interceptions during the past two years.

It must have been tough following such a celebrated line of family members, but Rashard Smith was met with nothing but success in adding a new chapter to his family’s history and making a name for himself. Saturday’s win only cemented his legacy and ensured that he will never be known simply as Ben Smith’s cousin.

But if that was the way people wanted to remember him, Rashard Smith would be fine with it. After all, he never viewed himself as playing in his cousin’s shadow. Instead, he was playing in his footsteps.

“That’s just the love I’ve got for this man,” Rashard Smith said as he stood next to his cousin after Saturday’s game. “Ben’s a great guy, and I love him.”

Contact Jay Adams at 744-4401 or jadams@macon.com