It has been quite the ride for Three Rivers College women’s basketball player Mariah Smith just to be where she is today.
The redshirt sophomore’s tale began almost three years ago coming out of high school in Tulsa when Smith was trying to decide where to continue her playing career.
Deciding to go to New Mexico Junior College – after also being recruited by Three Rivers and head coach Alex Wiggs – she did so in the middle of the height of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
“She kind of got the short end of the stick (at New Mexico Junior College) because they didn’t have a (2020-21) season because of COVID,” Wiggs said. “She transferred here last year and it was tough on her because she took that year off. She has 100 percent bought in and is starting for us and playing really well.
“She takes care of her business off the court and in the classroom and she really works on her game, gets the extra shots up, and does what she needs to do to be a Lady Raider. I expect big things from her this year.”
So far through seven games, Smith is averaging 8.3 ppg on 38.9 field goal percentage (while shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc) while playing just over 20 minutes per outing. That’s up from 5.1 ppg in 11 minutes a night from a year ago while she shot 32 percent from the field.
Smith said the time at New Mexico Junior College was definitely wrought with adversity from day one.
“They brought us in and told us they weren’t sure if we were going to play or not,” Smith said. “The governor shut down the state in (late fall of 2020) so we finished out classes online. It sucked a lot and you think where does that put you for the future and how are you going to play and how are you going to be seen.
“I went home and still worked out and kept doing what I was supposed to be doing. I just did my homework. There really wasn’t anything else to do and wait it out until the following year.”
Smith felt confident she could find a new home, but the unknown about the virus and her next stop was not comforting until she and Wiggs reconnected.
“Originally, out of high school, I was going to go to Three Rivers, I went to Seward first, but then the coach went to New Mexico and I went with him,” Smith said. “With the COVID year, I didn’t know much. I talked to Coach Wiggs and he said he had a place for me and I was happy to come.”
Since coming to Poplar Bluff, she says the experience has worked out just fine.
“I love it here, honestly: They take care of us so much, make sure we are OK and Coach Wiggs is a great coach,” Smith said. “We have great communication with him. I am getting a lot more playing time this year and seeing the hard work paying off.
“I have to just keep going and everything will work out like it’s supposed to.”
Smith says she has the ability to move well with the ball on the court and can shoot the rock, but wants to become a better defender.
“All that will come,” Smith said.
Smith wants to study to be a nurse and become an anesthesiologist.
“I like science so I have always been interested in medicine and I thought it would be cool to do,” she said. “I like taking care of people. I kind of grew up in daycare with my mom watching kids and stuff.
“I am kind of an optimist. I got that from my mom (LaShawna Smith). She always sees the positive and says it can always be worse.”
For now, Smith hopes to continue on in basketball so she can pay for her education and despite admitting she’s a big fan of Grey’s Anatomy, she would prefer not to work in a hospital.
“I think I’d like to work in a clinic or something like that,” Smith said. “(Grey’s Anatomy) is too much drama.”
Alan Dale - Daily American Republic