TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE LAST 30 YEARS: CHRIS SMITH

By Mike Tupa

August 1, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

Today's spotlight:

CHRIS SMITH (Caney Valley)

Boys basketball/baseball (late 1990s-early 2000s)

What do you say about a warrior who brought an arsenal of physical skills, a looming athletic presence and an unquenchable fire of determination to the mix?

Chris Smith was one of a kind, the golden ace in the deck for the Caney Valley Trojans.

Take for example Smith’s performance in the Class 3A area basketball playoffs, which pitted the Trojans against highly-favored Alva Goldbugs, with a spot at the state tournament on the line.

Smith took control of the game in the first half — mostly by his powerful drives into the paint, almost all of which resulted in either: a) free throws; b) high-percentage shots or layups; and c) pass-offs to open teammates.

In the first half, the officials tooted their whistles time after time to send Smith to the charity stripe. He cashed in with uncanny accuracy to help Caney Valley stay ahead.

With 31 seconds left until halftime, Smith drew an intentional foul. He drilled both free throws to extend Caney Valley’s lead to 32-24. 

But, according to the Bartlesville newspaper, during the first half (and likely at halftime) the Alva bench complained vigorously to the officials about the number of fouls Smith drew in the first half.

Whether it was because of that griping or not, Smith didn’t get the benefit of many calls in the second half — which allowed Alva to make a run.

Meanwhile, Caney Valley’s offense faltered, resulting in a four-minute scoreless drought. Anthony Schaper finally jump-started the Trojan offense by hitting a trey, off a pass from 6-foot-8 C.J. Buesser.  Buesser might have been more of a force but sat a good chunk of the game due to foul woes.

In the second half, Smith suffered a painful upper thigh injury, forcing him to leave the game and depriving Caney Valley of its best ball handler against the halfcourt trap.

Smith walked up and down the sidelines trying to work out the pain. He finally got back in the game and drained a trey to cut Alva’s lead to 48-46.

But Alva won, 68-53, despite a 33-point barrage by Smith in what would be his final high school basketball game.

His basketball resume included several outstanding performances prior to that.

During the 2000 Caney Valley Invitational, Smith popped in 37 points to lead the Trojans past a powerful Salina squad, 77-68, in the championship game.

During the three-game week-long tourney, Smith nailed 40-of-44 free throws and earned the MVP award.

He was just as effective — perhaps more so — on the baseball diamond for Caney Valley, the Bartlesville American Legion program and the Bartlesville Pepsi Cubs.

In 2001 he led the Cubs in hitting and also bolstered the starting pitching rotation.

Coming out of high school, Bartlesville Wesleyan University offered him a scholarship in both basketball and baseball.

Smith went on to a career in education and coaching. He guided the Chelsea High boys basketball program for several years and has coached other teams as well.

Eventually, he was hired a few years ago as the Copan Schools Superintendent.

Smith remains a sparkling area athletic icon from his era and one of the top-ever Washington County high school athletes.