The last thing Smith wants is anything to be about her. She wants it all about that team. But she could not avoid the spotlight Monday night.

The doors to an exclusive club became ajar and Smith made sure she kicked them down.

Smith scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, reaching 1,000 career points while helping Hughesville defeat Central Mountain, 65-40. Every Spartan did her part and Smith made sure to remind others that this was not her night, but their night together.

“I just have to give it all to my teammates. Without them on the court with me, getting that offensive rebound to get me another chance to score, or an assist to me, this wouldn’t be possible,” Smith said before being swarmed by happy well-wishers afterward. “It’s a great accomplishment but I owe it all to them, the coaches and the fan base we have around us. Without that, none of this would have been possible, and I’m so grateful to have them around me.”

Vivian Draper (34) of Hughesville and Camdyn Weaver (20) of Central Mountain reach for a loose ball at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

They are equally grateful that Smith is a part of Hughesville. Both certainly bring out each other’s best.

The junior guard has helped transform the program these past three seasons with Hughesville capturing its first district championship, winning three state tournament games and going 52-10. Smith has the entire skills package, including speed, tenacity, shooting and the ability to take her game inside and outside.

But is that selfless mentality; that maturity which has meant just as much. Put it all together and Smith reached 1,000 career points quicker than any Spartan this century. She joins Chelsey Holmes and former teammate Alli Anstadt as Hughesville 1,000-point scorers in the 2000s and the way her teammates and fans reacted to her achievement says a lot about Smith’s impact on the program.

“She’s matured every game all the way through,” Hughesville coach Dustin King said. “All of us coaches have coached her since elementary school and it’s fun to watch her grow. She’s a competitor and she’s only getting better as keeps going.”

All the Spartans were going strong Monday as Hughesville (5-1) won its fifth straight game. Anna Easton (11 points, 9 rebounds) and Vivian Draper (10 points, 9 rebounds) set the early tone; Kylie Temple scored eight points, and Tori Morgan was spectacular off the bench, making six steals. Kendall Hamm added four assists, and Hughesville imposed the mercy rule early in the third quarter.

Reagan Weaver (22) of Central Mountain passes to team mate Camdyn Weaver (20) against Hughesville at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

It was a team effort and Smith has always been a team player. On her big night, Smith again unleashed her entire arsenal, adding 10 rebounds, four assists and six steals.

Smith has been on a scoring rampage, topping 30 points for a third straight game. Still, she is taking what’s there and playing not for stats but wins. The assists proved it again, similar to a week earlier when Smith had six in a 35-point showing at Wyalusing.

“It just shows that the game is just coming to her,” King said. “She did a great job settling in and finishing the game really well.”

Smith had to wait two extra days sitting at 989 points. Hughesville was scheduled to host Wyoming Valley West Saturday afternoon, but Valley West had to cancel due to illness. Smith would have rather achieved 1,000 points at home, but Hughesville fans did their best to make it feel like a home game.

Early, Smith struggled and did not make a first quarter field goal but did total three free throws and three rebounds as Draper and Easton’s inside play and passing helped Hughesville build an 18-9 lead.

Kendall Hamm (12) of Hughesville and Payton Williams (23) of Central Mountain fight for control of the ball at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Smith, though, started heating up in the second quarter, scoring off two Draper assists and a putback. She then grabbed an offensive board with 1:23 to go in the half and went to the line, need both shots to reach Hughesville immortality.

Smith made it look easy. She swished the first shot and barely hit rim on the second as Spartan fans erupted. Smith took a deep breath and smiled before being engulfed by jubilant teammates. Elementary school players presented Smith with four balloons counting 1,000 and she posed for a few pictures.

Add them to the scrapbook for a player who has made quite a few headlines in less than 2 ½ seasons.

“It’s a great milestone, but it’s a lot of pressure in a way. Once I got it, I was like, ‘OK, we got it, so let’s just worry about the rest of the season and doing what we do,'” Smith said. “Everybody wishes it was at home, but nobody is going to know in 20 years where you got it. I’m just happy that everyone came and supported our team and we got the job done.”

Smith played looser from that point on and was dominant throughout the second half. The three-year starter scored 12 straight fourth quarter points in less than two minutes and was a rebound from a double-double entering that quarter.

Anna Easton (33) of Hughesville puts up a shot against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

How she produced those points told a big part of Smith’s high school story. She did so off steals, by beating defenders off the dribble, off jumpers and made all seven of her fourth quarter shots from the field and line.

“Yesterday at practice my coaches were like, ‘It’s going to come, try not to force anything. Just play your game and it will come,'” Smith said. “I came out trying to get it rather than letting it come to me, and I took some bad shots, but I ended up playing my game and I got it and I did fine after that.”

Hughesville players continued sharing the ball and seeing the court well and set each other up for quality shots. The Spartans also effectively turned defense into offense with Temple and Morgan combining for nine first half steals.

Morgan played, possibly, her best high school game, helping ignite a 9-0 run which put Hughesville up 11 late in the first quarter. The sophomore is progressing well and showcased her potential, adding a second quarter basket off a Smith assist and making a team-high six steals.

“We thought Tori did a really good job off the bench. She’s maturing,” King said. “She’s only a sophomore, so it takes some time to bring these girls along and we’re lucky enough to have a successful program where these girls are taking a lot of reps, but the other girls are learning, and it showed tonight with Tori. It’s fun to watch them grow.”

Maddie Smith of Hughesville puts up a shot against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Central Mountain is showing lots of room to grow, featuring one of the area’s younger rosters. The Wildcats look like a dangerous team as freshmen like Reagan Weaver and Taylor Williams gain more experience, and that shined through at times against Hughesville.

Weaver put together a fabulous performance and finished just two assists from a triple-double, going for 18 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Williams had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists and junior point guard Camdyn Weaver six assists.

“We’ll be OK. A lot of people don’t recognize the difference between 14- and 17-year-olds. That’s a big difference,” Central Mountain coach Scott Baker said. “Just the physical side and the quickness and the extra step … all those little things make a difference. You can’t speed that up. It only happens through time, but they’re willing to work and they’re all great kids.”

Smith has been willing to work since she started playing sports. That drive and determination not only has helped her make a huge impact on the basketball court but also the softball field where she has earned all-state honors twice and helped Hughesville reach its first district championship.

Smith committed to play softball at Bucknell a few weeks ago but considered trying to handle both sports. Her future is on the field, but Smith loves being on the court. She loves her teammates and community even more, so the future can wait.

These days, Smith is simply enjoying the ride. What a ride it has been thus far.

“I’m going to be devastated when basketball ends,” Smith said. “This team means so much to me and I’m so happy that I get to be surrounded by such great people.”

HUGHESVILLE (65)

Maddie Smith 11 8-11 30, Kendall Hamm 2 0-0 4, Vivian Draper 5 0-1 10, Allysa King 0 0-0 0, Kylie Temple 4 0-1 8, Anna Easton 5 1-2 11, Tori Morgan 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 9-15 65.

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN (40)

Camdyn Weaver 3 0-2 6, Reagan Weaver 8 2-3 18, Payton Williams 5 0-0 10, Elise McKean 1 0-0 3, Alaina Carnahan 1 0-0 3, Shailynn Fullerton 0 0-0 0, Morgan Davis 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 2-5 40.

Hughesville 18 22 13 12–65

C Mountain  9 4 14 13–40

3-pointers: Central Mountain 2 (McKean, Carnahan).

Records: Hughesville 5-1. Central Mountain 1-4.

Maddie Smith of Hughesville passes against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Morgan Davis of Central Mountain passes out of the double team against Hughesville at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Anna Easton of Hughesville passes over the defense of Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Maddie Smith of Hughesville (10) of Central Mountain Shailynn Fullerton (13) reach for a loose ball at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Maddie Smith of Hughesville puts up a shot against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Smith scored her 1002nd point on this shot. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Reagan Weaver of Central Mountain puts up a fade away shot against Hughesville at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Maddie Smith of Hughesville puts up a shot against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Kendall Hamm of Hughesville puts up a shot against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

The Hughesville girls basketball team celebrate with their team mate Maddie Smith who scored her 1000th career point during a game against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Maddie Smith of Hughesville scores her 1,000th career point with this foul shot during the game against Central Mountain at Central Mountain High School. Hughesville won 65-40. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express