CASSELTON— Decontee Smith is the leading scorer for Central Cass this season, but a few months ago she thought she may never play again.
Smith was getting ready for playoff volleyball, when a routine check-up uncovered some unsettling news…
"They found that my heart was like, irregular." said the senior forward "Especially for like me being active in stuff. So then my doctor basically told me, I couldn't do anything for like two weeks with a heart monitor on."
Decontee had to sit out the end of the volleyball season, but was given the all clear from her doctors and she returned to the basketball court with a new outlook
Head coach Jay Bachman said "She's been really appreciative this year... like I know what I got to do now and I'm not going to take any of these games for granted. It was scary right away, but now everything's good. We're moving on and she's excited."
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That excitement has led to a new leadership role for the Squirrels, one that she stepped into reluctantly.
Bachman said "Decontee hasn't been a vocal leader because we've had some girls that were always a grade above her that were the vocal leaders. But this year, she's really taken more of that vocal leader role."
The senior isn’t used to being the oldest, because of her upbringing and being the sixth of seven children.
When asked what its like growing up with five older siblings Smith said "It was hectic, my older siblings are very, very crazy. They're all boys, but them picking on me made me a tougher person."
Decontee has earned respect on the court, but who she is as a person has endeared her to the community.
Smith will be playing basketball at Northern State in the fall.
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