Bowers Finds Shot Just in Time to Lead Kent City Back to D3 Finale

By Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com

March 17, 2022

EAST LANSING – Kent City junior guard Lexie Bowers didn’t waste any time breaking out of a rare shooting slump.

After struggling offensively in her team’s Quarterfinal, Bowers redeemed herself with an impressive shooting performance two days later.

Bowers scored a game-high 22 points to help lead the Eagles to a 47-30 win over Madison Heights Bishop Foley in Thursday’s second Division 3 Semifinal at the Breslin Center.

The unbeaten Eagles (26-0) with return to the Finals for the second consecutive year and play Ypsilanti Arbor Prep at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Gators (24-2) defeated previously-unbeaten Glen Lake in the other Semifinal, 57-44.

“I haven't had a good shooting night in a while, and I knew coming in that I was going to have to pick up my shooting because that’s what I am, a shooter,” said Bowers, who had a season-low six points in a one-point win over Schoolcraft in the Quarterfinal.

“I was more calm (today), which is weird because I'm in the Breslin, but I set my feet more and I just had a lot more confidence in myself. I just let it go.”

Bowers drained three of her five 3-pointers during the second quarter as Kent City shrugged off a slow start to lead 30-13 at the half.

“We started hitting shots in the second quarter, and our offense started moving,” Eagles coach Aleah Holcomb said. “Our shooting percentage was great in the first half, and I was very happy with how well we played tonight. We hit a lot of shots, and defensively we shut them down and played good team defense.”

Kent City/Bishop Foley basketballBishop Foley coach Ray Joseph was impressed by Bowers’ shooting prowess.

“She was on fire, and she was hitting all kinds of shots,” Joseph said. “We put someone on her to try and slow her down, and it worked for a little bit. She didn’t score that much more in the second half than the first. She’s a good player.”

One of Bowers’ most memorable moments in the game happened in the fourth quarter when she was knocked down attempting a 3-pointer.

“No, I didn't see it go in,” Bowers said. “I just got hit and then everybody was around me and I was like, ‘What, did I make it?’ Yeah, it was crazy, but it was a good shot.”

Bowers converted the free throw for a four-point play to give the Eagles a commanding 42-23 lead. 

“We all played really hard, and it's taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and we are just really glad to be back,” Bowers said. “The two-point loss in the state finals last year has been motivation and made us work even harder.”

Kent City sophomore Madelyn Geers played well on both ends of the court. She made 7 of 13 shots and finished with 16 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Bishop Foley, which was led by Ryan Moorer’s seven points and 10 rebounds, made its first trip to the Semifinals in school history.

The Ventures (20-4) weren’t able to recover from being outscored 20-7 in the second quarter.

“It was a tough game, and in the first half we really didn't play our game,” Joseph said. “In the second half we played them pretty evenly, but they had the height on us and got a lot of rebounds. We didn't quit, and we fought till the end.”

Click for the full box score.

PHOTOS (Top) Kent City’s Emmalyn Geers (41) sets a screen on Bishop Foley’s Ryan Moorer (23) as the Eagles get into their offense Thursday at Breslin Center. (Middle) Bishop Foley’s Melanie Moore (34) works for position against Geers. (Click for more from Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)

Performance of the Week: Jackson Northwest's Ashley Weller

January 19, 2024

Ashley Weller headshotAshley Weller ♦ Jackson Northwest
Senior ♦ Basketball

A notable milestone was celebrated with a notable victory by Weller and Jackson Northwest on Jan. 9. The four-year varsity standout scored 18 points and reached 1,000 for her career as the Mounties won 43-35 over Coldwater, which joined Northwest as co-champion in the Interstate 8 Athletic Conference last season. The win over Coldwater also was the Mounties’ second this season avenging a loss from 2022-23.

Weller is averaging 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and three steals per game this winter, and Northwest is 7-1 and a combined 57-15 over her four seasons on varsity. She scored 33 points Tuesday against Marshall as Northwest took over first place alone in the I8AC. Also a three-year varsity volleyball player and all-area selection in that sport, Weller will continue her basketball career at Spring Arbor and is considering studying physical therapy. 

@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Ashley Weller #basketball #northwest #letsgo #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Ashley Weller #tiktalk #questiontime #part2 #jordan #prettylittleliars #subway #laughing #crying #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

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Past 2023-24 Honorees

Jan. 11: Michael Baldwin, Saginaw Arthur Hill wrestling - Report
Dec. 15:
Jena Fijolek, Fenton bowling - Report
Dec. 8:
Sophia Wagner, Escanaba gymnastics - Report
Dec. 1:
Isaiah Marshall, Southfield Arts & Technology football - Report
Nov. 24:
Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate volleyball - Report
Nov. 17:
Kalieb Osborne, Waterford Mott football - Report
Nov. 10:
Tekalegn Vlasma, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3:
Colton Kinnie, Birmingham Seaholm football - Report
Oct. 27:
Lauren Timpf, Macomb Lutheran North golf - Report
Oct. 20:
Alena Li, Okemos golf - Report
Oct. 13:
Seth Norder, Grand Haven cross country - Report
Oct. 5:
Paige Anderson, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer golf - Report
Sept. 29:
MacKenzie Bisballe, Lake City volleyball - Report
Sept. 22:
Jhace Massey, Gladwin football - Report
Sept. 15:
Kaylee Draper, Sturgis swimming - Report
Sept. 8:
Owen Jackson, Traverse City St. Francis tennis - Report
Sept. 1:
Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Jackson Northwest girls basketball program.)