Molding a Winner at Dixie

G. Michael Graham Photo. Dixie Heights head coach Tara Boothe-Smith (kneeling) goes over strategy with her assistants in the 9th Region quarterfinals against Ryle on Friday at Northern Kentucky University. Smith, a 2002 Highlands graduate, guided the Lady Colonels to their first 34th District title since 2008 this year.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Tara Boothe-Smith won a lot as a player at Highlands and Xavier University.

Now she’s trying to mold that mentality into the Dixie Heights Lady Colonels basketball program. In 2011, Smith took over a team that had not had a winning season since the 2004-05 campaign and had not been to the 9th Region tournament since its last 34th District title in 2008.

After two seasons, Dixie Heights is 26-38 under the 2002 Highlands graduate’s guidance. The Lady Colonels ended one drought with a 9th Region appearance and 10-22 record in the 2011-2012 campaign.

“That’s something we tried to get across to them,” Smith said. “In two years, to make that turnaround, that’s something to be proud of.”

Dixie Heights improved to 16-16 this year and won the district title. The Lady Colonels lost 51-34 to Ryle in the first round of the region tournament for the second straight year. But it was closer than last year’s 72-38 defeat.

“I think what you see happening is what made it appealing to me,” Smith said. “I know we can be successful at Dixie. I know there are players here and our (Director of Athletics Matt Wilhoite) is very supportive. It was a no-brainer.”

Smith spent one season as an assistant under Jaime Walz-Richey at Highlands before taking the job. Prior to that, she spent three years as an assistant at the University of New Hampshire. Richey and Smith are the top two career point-scorers at Highlands.

“We talked that year and I told her, ‘If you want your own program, apply,” Richey said. “She applied for some different jobs and decided Dixie was a good fit for her.”

Dixie Heights will graduate just two seniors from this year’s team. They are Meggie Malone and Aubrey Moore. Smith and staff have the luxury of building around sophomore center Liza Tibbs next year and junior forward Alexis Strong.

“(Smith) always has high expectations of us,” Tibbs said. “She didn’t tell us we wouldn’t be in a game. She always thought that if we played our hardest, we’d be in the game and could play with any team.”

There were some big adjustments going from coaching college players to high school players. The biggest was not being able to practice whenever the staff wants.

“You get two hours a day pretty much,” Smith said. “In college, you can pretty much hone your time. We would like to do more stuff, but it’s not really there.”

Smith also has to deal with the psychology of teen-age girls. It takes different techniques to motivate players.

“I look at them as basketball players and I treat them that way,” Smith said. “That’s how they respond. You may have more of the drama with girls, but they just come out and play. That’s what I expect.”

Smith also has to deal with balancing coaching and family life. Smith and her husband Steve, a native of Florida, have a son Austin and daughter Peyton.

“Between my husband and parents (Richard and Judy Boothe), I have a great support system,” Smith said. “They (husband and parents) help watch (the kids). They come to practice with me sometimes. (The kids) are just as much a part of the team as anyone. The players on the team expect them to be there. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Smith was pregnant with Peyton that first season. But she handled that challenge just fine.

“You’d have to ask the team this,” Smith said. “I don’t know if I was a bit more moody. The end of the season was near my due date. But it wasn’t that bad.”

Smith has faced Richey and her alma mater twice. Highlands won both contest including a 64-30 loss in Fort Thomas to open this season in a game that saw Highlands standout and Xavier University signee Leah Schaefer join them in the 1,000-point club. But Smith and Richey do not make those matchups about them.

“For the kids on the team, it’s just another game,” Smith said. “I’m not playing and Jaime is not playing. They’re getting up for every game and trying to prepare for every team.”   

Smith scored more than 2,000 points in her career at Highlands and led the Bluebirds to four straight 9th Region title game appearances. That including titles in 2000 and 2001 before going to Xavier.

At Xavier, Smith finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder for both genders with 2,324 career points and 1,004 rebounds. Smith then spent a year overseas playing in Switzerland’s elite league for Universite BC Neuchatel. That team won the Swiss Championship and she earned league Most Valuable Player honors.