Lady Tigers Bring Hard Hats and Heart Into Title Defense

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

As a new basketball season begins, a fresh group of Lady Tigers is preparing to defend Smithville’s first district championship since 2019 with hopes of making another deep playoff run.

Head coach Jaimie Kadlecek is guiding a reshaped roster that features a mix of younger players and seniors stepping into leadership roles for the first time. While this year’s team doesn’t have the same makeup as last year’s, Kadlecek lights up when talking about these kids.

“Every day I come to practice, I enjoy coming to practice. They are coachable kids, they will do anything you ask them to do,” she said in an interview Monday. “They are really big about picking each other up and being very positive and encouraging with each other.”

The benefits of that positive energy are already showing up in the standings. The Lady Tigers opened the season Nov. 11 against Canyon Lake and rallied from a nine-point deficit for a 45-38 victory.

They dropped their second game at Moulton 53-37, but bounced back Tuesday with a 43-36 home win over El Campo. Smithville (2-1) is looking to start a winning streak when they host Luling on Friday at 5 p.m.

Hard Hats and Heart

Last year’s district-championship team had three vocal seniors who provided the on-court leadership that drove its success. Those seniors graduated in May, leaving big shoes to fill.

“Those three seniors we had last year were a huge part of our team, very big leaders. So this year, it’s been different, encouraging others to step up and lead,” Kadlecek said. “My seniors this year are quiet, not ones to speak up and say things.”

Kadlecek spent the offseason encouraging her seniors to step up and be vocal so that when they get deep into the season and a player needs to have a difficult conversation with a teammate, the group will be comfortable enough to do it.

To help that growth, Kadlecek is reading Jon Gordon’s book “The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate” with the team this season.

“It’s perfect for this team because they are great teammates already,” she said. “It’s just finding what piece of the puzzle they are and really doing their job on and off the court too.”

Like last season, the team carries a mascot everywhere it goes. This year they chose Bob the Builder to pair with the book. After each game, the Lady Tigers pick a player who made a big play (like nailing a three-pointer for the first time) or stepped out of her comfort zone (like taking a charge for the first time), and that player gets to take Bob home.

Senior Star

Senior point guard Sydnie Brenner is returning for her final season in a Lady Tigers uniform. The reigning district MVP is drawing looks from colleges to play at the next level.

“She’s a great teammate. She deserves to play at the next level,” Kadlecek said. “Anyone who has her will be lucky because she is a joyful kid that comes in every day, works really hard and just loves the game.”

Brenner is an incredible talent and a scoring machine. She scored 18 of the Lady Tigers’ 43 points against El Campo on Tuesday.

“It’s hard to play with someone really good. You’re always worried about letting that person down,” Kadlecek said. “But she’s just not that type of teammate, and I feel like that’s what’s helping our younger ones grow. They don’t feel like they’re letting anyone down or she’s going to be mad.”

She added, “I really hope we can give her a senior season that’s something to be happy and excited about.”

Smithville Support

Kadlecek is hoping the Smithville home-gym advantage can be a difference-maker for her team this season. During the Lady Tigers’ alumni game earlier this month, the gym was packed, leaving her young team wide-eyed at playing in front of so many people.

Kadlecek reminded her squad that it’s a blessing to have that kind of support, and hopes Smithville will provide it again this season.

“You can never tell the fans enough how thankful you are for coming out and supporting them. It can change a game if you have fans packed in here helping you get through tough times and tough games,” Kadlecek said. “That’s the one thing I’ve always loved about this community — no matter what, they show up and they support and they are very loyal supporters. So I appreciated that as a player, and ultimately appreciate it as a coach and love that my kids get to experience it too.”