Portland’s Ashley Bower isn’t looking to waste opportunities.
The junior made the most of her opportunities on the basketball court this winter, leading the Red Raiders to a state championship on the court. It interrupted her football season, but Bower made the most of what she had.
She only played 12 games due to the length of the basketball season and the cancellation of a number of early season games. Twelve was enough though, as Bower hit the ground running, scoring a school-record 22 goals in the shortened season.
She is the Ionia Sentinel-Standard All-County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“She’s that player who goes out there, she’s motivated,” Portland coach Brad Prehn said. “Reaching the level she has is her commitment. Whether it’s basketball or other sports, that’s the commitment.
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Bower scored 10 first-year goals in a strong campaign and didn’t have a second season due to COVID-19. They planned to run their offense 4-4-2 with Bower at the top as a striker this season, but got off to a 1-3 start.
They started winning once Bower stepped onto the court, doing everything Prehn asked of him.
“I was counting on her to take control of the offense,” Prehn said. “She is fantastic with the ball. She is calm when she has the ball, she never panics.
Prehn said the previous school record was 20 goals, and that was set in 18 or 19 games, so Bower effectively made that happen.
The Red Raiders would finish the season with an 11-6 record before falling to conference rival Lansing Catholic in the district semifinals.
They didn’t rearrange the attack to take advantage of Bower’s skills with the ball, but he was well organized to get the ball to a prolific goalscorer up front.
“In her first year, she was one of the top scorers. She matured more, physically she was probably stronger,” Prehn said. “We stayed with the same format and the same expectations. When we advanced the ball on offense, they were looking for Ashley.
Bower was also an All-County Golfer and Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, adding a state basketball title as the crown jewel of her sports season. Bower kept up the good performance on the field.
Prehn thinks she can do even more in a full season — if the basketball team doesn’t make another run for the state championship.
“I see her scoring as many goals if not more. We are returning a lot of our main players,” he said.
ALL COUNTY TEAM
Ashley Bower
SCHOOL >> Portland
LEVEL >> 11
POST >> Before
IN FIGURES >> 22 goals, 7 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “Top scorer for the second consecutive year. Honorable mention for all conferences, districts, regions and states. –Chris Roof
Josalyn Anthony
SCHOOL >> Ionia
LEVEL >> 12
POST >> F
IN FIGURES >> 7 goals, 3 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “Josalyn was an excellent team leader and a top scoring player throughout her high school career. She had 31 goals and 18 assists during the three years she played in college. His leadership made the offense competitive. — Ionia’s coach, Jim Anthony
Anja Kelley
SCHOOL >> Lakewood
LEVEL >> 12
POSITION >> M/F
IN FIGURES >> 18 goals
COACH COMMENT >> “Was captain. All leagues and all districts. — Lakewood coach James Leveque
Alyssa Brown
SCHOOL >> Belding
LEVEL >> 11
POST >> M
IN FIGURES >> 6 goals, 9 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “Second year captain. OK Silver All-Conference. — Paul Hulford, Belding coach
Ava Gruber
SCHOOL >> Portland
LEVEL >> 12
POSITION >> Midfielder
IN FIGURES >> 1 goal, 6 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “Senior captain. The hardest working player on the team. All CAAC White and All-District conferences.
Janissa Anthony
SCHOOL >> Ionia
LEVEL >> 12
POST >> D
IN FIGURES >> 4 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “Janissa led the (defence) with great leadership. She was very smart on the pitch. She finished her high school career with six goals and 12 assists.
Ellie Menard
SCHOOL >> Lakewood
LEVEL >> 11
POSITION >> D/G
COACH’S COMMENT >> “All leagues and all districts.”
Julia Finley
SCHOOL >> Belding
LEVEL >> 11
POST >> F
IN FIGURES >> 11 goals, 3 assists
COACH’S COMMENT >> “OK Silver All-Conference.”
Maddie Luxmore
SCHOOL >> Portland
LEVEL >> 11
POSITION >> Defender
IN FIGURES >> 12 goals, 5 assists
COACH’S COMMENT >> “Captain, all-conference, all-district honors.”
Avery Hanney
SCHOOL >> Ionia
LEVEL >> 10
POST >> M
IN FIGURES >> 1 goal, 3 assists
COACH COMMENT >> “It was Avery’s first year playing and she took off. She started and played in all positions except goalkeeper. With her injuries, it was easy to put her in the field where I needed her.
Sadie Brearley
SCHOOL >> Lakewood
LEVEL >> 10
POST >> M
IN FIGURES >> 3 goals
COACH COMMENT >> “Was also captain. Our best ball winner and a very good defender as well.
Catherine Albert
SCHOOL >> Belding
LEVEL >> 11
POSITION >> Middle back
COACH’S COMMENT >> “OK Silver Honorable Mention.”
Catherine Stanton
SCHOOL >> Portland
LEVEL >> 11
POSITION >> Guardian
IN FIGURES >> 0.73 goals conceded per match
COACH’S COMMENT >> “All conferences, all districts and all regions. Seven shutouts this year in goal.
german brooklyn
SCHOOL >> Belding
LEVEL >> 11
POSITION >> Middle back
COACH’S COMMENT >> “OK Silver Honorable Mention.”
