Hard work is paying off for 16-0 Lady Wildcats

Laney's Lady Wildcats are off to their best start in 23 years under coach Otis Smart. They're 16-0, and the reasons why are vast.

"We've never worked harder," Smart said. "Never ran or conditioned this much. Ever."

That's clear in practice. The Lady Wildcats go through suicide drills and sprints after team work.

"Suicides," Smart said. "I want every hand touching the lines. Baselines, too. Get the hands down."

The looks shot back his way for an instant are more eloquent than words. The Lady Wildcats think their coach is incredulous to request another set. But their feet are already moving, no matter what their heads think.

"No slacking," Smart yelled. "Guards better run with guards."

Then comes a hardwood version of Simon Says. With his team gathered in a cluster, Smart calls out a direction that sends players shuffling off about 10 yards. Smart then calls out another direction.

He works his team like a yo-yo. Up down. Back. Forth. Zig. Zag.

It's all for pride.

"We got embarrassed last year in the playoffs," Smart said. "I wouldn't be any kind of coach if I took what happened last year lying down."

Dade County didn't look like the faster team in the second round last year, but the eventual Class A runner-up nearly lapped Laney with a 73-40 humbling.

"They whipped us," senior guard Eboni Fields said, who's being looked at by Miami, among other schools. "They were in much better condition. They weren't faster. But they played a more fundamental game and played with no hesitation. That's how they played faster than us."

Region alignment sent the Wildcats to play the North Georgia style of basketball rather than the up-tempo style Laney had faced when playing mostly schools south of Atlanta in previous state tournaments.

"We got our eyes opened," Smart said. "It was a new style. One we were not ready for."

Practices like this are intended to remove that distinction.

"This team has the big girls down low and the attitude," Fields said. "We're in shape. Focused. We play a lot better together now."

Lady Wildcats basketball has a proud tradition. Janice Wilkerson was a speedster at guard. Jackie Gibbons led the nation in scoring average in 1987 with 38 points per game.

And this team nudged aside the 1995 team that lost to Woodward Academy in the state final for the best start ever under Smart. The 1995 team began the year 15-1.

"We don't talk about what we do at Laney," he said. "We don't brag. But this team has already done some amazing things."

Smart saw the team start December off with a newfound maturity. Laney gained confidence with a holiday tournament in Savannah. The Lady Wildcats beat Class AAAAA Groves in the fourth quarter. Then they beat Miami Senior High in double overtime.

They lost a 37-12 lead to Florida High but didn't lose the game.

"Playing with a lead is the one thing we really have to work on," Jont Moss said. "We seem to lose our intensity just a bit with a big lead."

Then there's the game where Smart almost passed out.

That's when he learned two minutes before tip-off they'd have to play without a fever-stricken Fields. The senior point guard, who won MVP honors in the Savannah Holiday Classic, is good for 20 points, eight assists and six steals most nights.

The Wildcats remained perfect without their floor leader.

"We have a lot more experience than last year," Moss said. "We didn't even know who was going to play point guard without her. We've found out a lot about our team and a few new ways to win."

A clear goal has been set.

"Coach feels like we can go all the way," Moss said. "It doesn't seem like he's having a lot of fun because he's being hard on us. He realizes we have a shot at big things. He doesn't let the smiles stay on our faces for very long."

Smart is inspired by Hephzibah's Wendell Lofton finally winning his first state title last year. The Rebels also started out perfect and never lost a game.

"We need to win state soon," Smart said. "The program needs it. It's time. This is my 23rd team. I'm getting toward the end of my career. Coach Brantley at Josey won it around her 30th year. Wendell got his around year 30. Coach Rivers at ARC did, too. I need to get one in the next few years, too.

"Any coach that's been in the game as long as I have who tells you it doesn't matter if they win state is lying. It matters a great deal to all of us."

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.