Girls Basketball: South Elgin’s Becca Smith a scoring machine

Updated: February 2, 2012 6:49PM

Scoring 2,000 points in a prep basketball career is as a great individual accomplishment, but South Elgin’s Becca Smith views it another way.

“The only reason I have as many points as I do is because of teammates and the way we’ve played throughout the last four years,” Smith said. “Without them reaching any milestone wouldn’t have been possible.”

Smith isn’t there yet, but she is closing in on that magic number with 1,890 through Wednesday. Whether or not she gets to 2,000 depends greatly on her team in a different way.

South Elgin has three games remaining. The Storm is a top seed in its own regional, and at Smith’s current rate of scoring (20.5 points per game) her team may need to make it to the regional title game or even win it for her to get to 2,000.

“We’re anticipating her getting over that,” South Elgin coach Tim Prendergast said. “It’s pretty exciting. You see some people in the area moving over 1,000, and here she is with a chance to go over 2,000. That’s remarkable.

“She’s been a four-year starter and from Day 1 she’s been able to put the ball in the basket easily. She has scored in a lot of different ways.”

Smith’s father Tony, a former Judson College player, pointed out another way the 5-foot-8, Loyola-bound guard might have already hit 2,000 points.

“My dad said I would have had 2,000 when I was a sophomore if I made my free throws,” Smith said, laughing.

There was some truth behind the exaggeration and Smith took it to heart in the offseason. Free-throw shooting wasn’t Smith’s strength, as she hit just 98-of-150 (65.3 percent) last year.

She went to work and this year has made 98 in 137 attempts (71.5 percent).

“I think the work I did in the gym in summer, spring and fall, getting extra free throws has helped,” Smith said. “In a big game situation, you never know when it comes down to getting two free throws.”

“It’s not about me scoring, but winning,” Smith said. “This has been a lot more fun with the success we’re having, and we think it can continue.”

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