Basketball: Lani Snowden has heart of champ

It became official at the Fort Smith Tournament of Champions in early December when Lani Snowden received the tournament's Heart of a Champion award for character and leadership on and off the court. "The tournament committee and the host coaches chose that," Van Buren head coach Chris Bryant said. "We fill out a pre-tournament packet and we recognize some of your key players not only what they're doing on the floor, but what they bring to your team off the floor and in the community. They picked an outstanding one. Lani is a great representative not only for our program, but for our district and our community on and off the floor." Long before she was officially recognized with an award, though, Van Buren basketball fans already knew she had the heart of a champion. Her coach especially knew it. "It's easy to see what kind of teammate she is on the floor," Bryant said. "She's very enthusiastic. One of my favorite things to do when I go back and watch game film is to watch our bench and watch our girls on the floor. She's going to run and find somebody who makes a great shot during the game or a great pass, and going to make that demonstrable effort to recognize it; it's usually a high five or she points or some type of enthusiasm. That stands out." In the Fort Smith Tournament of Champions, Van Buren lost in the championship game to nationally ranked Hamilton Heights Christian Academy from Chattanooga, Tenn., 50-43, after being tied at 43-43 late. That's one of just three losses suffered by Van Buren this season, and the Lady Pointers are off to a 5-0 start in their first year back in the 7A-West. "I'm a little surprised, but not really," Snowden said. "I have full confidence in our team and we have a great team, but this is a tougher conference than we were in last year. The teams are more physical and play a lot faster." Van Buren played in the 7A/6A-Central the last two years, going 12-2 last year in the conference with nine mercy-rule wins. Snowden is one of four senior starters along with Halie Jennen, Bailey Jones and Taylar Sutton for Van Buren, and three of the four started last year. "I knew I had to take on more of a leadership responsibility this year," Snowden said. "All of our seniors feel that way. We had some really good ones last year that took care of us and brought the sophomores in help us be a team. Now all four of us are taking on that role." Snowden didn't shy away from a leadership role. In fact, she likes it. "I do," Snowden said. "I like the feeling that I'm kind of bringing everybody together, if I do that in one little way." It's not just the four senior starters and junior Jamilyn Kinney, the other starter, but all of her teammates that make up one of the top teams in the state.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Van Buren High School Athletics

BASKETBALL: LANI SNOWDEN HAS HEART OF CHAMP

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 1/24/2017