SWINT READY TO RETURN

Leigh Swint stood at the free throw line at the end of an intense practice Monday evening. If she made the shot her teammates and herself might avoid another session of running endline sprints.

A teammate had missed a shot resulting in a couple of sprints before Swint was picked to take the next shot. She made it.

Head coach Tim Goers tossed her the ball back and said, “One more to win the game.”

Swint (shown leading a break against Hackett on February 5) made that one too to complete the practice.

Considering it was two weeks to the day since an ankle injury had her out of action and on the bench for four games, having Swint was in practice was a welcome sight.

Except for when she took a spill a couple of times.

“Please get up,” was a common thought.

Swint did so each time and while removing tape after practice reported the ankle was fine.

So how have the last four games been?

“Miserable,” said Swint. “I get so anxious. Like I know (my teammates) can do it, but just sitting there.”

While she sat Friday the Lady Bearcats rallied from 10 down to beat Danville 49-42 in the finals of the District 3A-4 tournament in Cedarville.

There were several individuals in purple wondering if it was time to see if she was ready, Swint included.

“Every time (coach Goers) would walk down our bench I would make eye contact,” said Swint. “I kept thinking maybe this time.”

The only vote that matter said no.

“I looked in her eyes and saw her there, but it was never an option,” said Goers. “She wasn’t ready and I needed us to win the game with the kids we had. It was a close game and we won and we didn’t have to put her in a position where she was unsure about what she was doing.

“Even though it wasn’t the way we wanted it, it was a win and we’re proud of them because they haven’t had an opportunity to close out games, and two nights in a row we had to close out games. We feel like things happen for a reason and hopefully we have to prepare to win games in the future.”

The 3A-4 finals win pushed the Lady Bearcats to 26-0 – the semifinal win was 40-29 over Charleston – and into the Class 3A 1 Region as a top seed.

It was also, as noted, pressure filled throughout, but that’s getting to be the norm for Swint and the Lady Bearcats as the win streak grows.

“There’s like lot of pressure to think that we have to keep winning,” said Swint. “It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s good pressure, no like oh my gosh, you’re so nervous. It’s exciting.”

It’s also been special, Swint said.

“Joleigh (Tate), Hayley (Roberts), Brooke (Turner), I’ve been playing with them all the way from fourth grade up so for their senior year we were like we’re going to make this year the best it can be,” said Swint.

Swint is accustomed to being on the floor with them to help make that happen. She was granted the rare ability to move up after a freshman season.

That was due to the number of injuries the 2019-2020 Lady Bearcat team had suffered leaving them on the brink of being unable to compete.

The adjustment form major contributor to being in a supporting role rather was the latest for the junior.

During the Bill Frye Classic over the Christmas break – one of the now four tournament title runs – Swint couldn’t get a shot to fall so she found other ways to contribute, pulling down 12 rebounds and adding four steals and a couple of assists.

“I feel like I have to do something or I’m not giving my team what they deserve,” said Swint. “If my shots aren’t feeling, or I can’t get assists, I can’t rest on defense.”

Swint is second on the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists and is the leader in steals.

Described as a combo-guard you can find Swint running the point or posting up, or anywhere in between.

That’s been another adjustment for the 5’ 10” junior.

“I had never played post until my sophomore year. I was always a point guard or a shooting guard,” she said.

Her favorite part of the game really depends on the possession.

“I don’t have a favorite. When I’m playing I don’t really think a lot. (Coach) Goers is always like ‘be in the right mental state’ but I’m not thinking at all,” said Swint. “I just take what (the opponent) does and go.”

Once this historic season is completed the all-around athlete will turn her attention to softball. She also plays golf and was on a state qualifying Lady Bearcat squad in the fall.

Swint is the daughter of Paula Swint and James Brackney.

Swint is following her mother and aunt, Amy Washburn, as a Lady Bearcat, but that isn’t where she picks up a lot of tips outside of the gym.

“My mom was always my coach and I’ve always been really close to Amy but the one that helped the most was probably my grandpa (Russ),” said Swint. “During the summer that COVID happened me and (cousin) Jace would go up to his house for like two hours and do ball handling and moves and stuff.

“At the time I was like ‘he’s crazy’, but I’m so glad he made me do it. I’ll find myself out here and later think, he made me do that.”

The Lady Bearcats are slated to face Greenland at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at in the opening round of the Class 3A Region 1 tournament being hosted by Booneville High School.

However, a winter storm is threatening to delay the start of the tournament and, consequently, Swint's return to game action.