Basketball is her focus – for now
Justine Bowman now has two loves.
Soccer used to hold first place in the Central Valley High School junior’s heart, and it’s still a year-round affair.
But a round, brown ball has moved into her heart and taken up residence.
“I’d have to say that I love them both equally now,” Bowman laughed. “I’d hate to have to choose one of them over the other. And if I did have to choose, I couldn’t tell you which one it would be. I can really see it going either way.”
Watch Bowman lead the Central Valley girls basketball varsity and it’s readily apparent that the 5-foot-4-inch point guard loves the game. She attacks the game with passion and verve, and plays the game with joy.
And this year, she’s playing with a sense of leadership.
Last year, Bowman worked with a senior-dominated Central Valley team – several who played varsity basketball for four years.
“Last year’s seniors took her under their wing and really mentored her,” coach Judy Walters said. “They were really good about helping our younger players.”
Bowman was playing middle school basketball, along with club soccer, when she was asked to think about taking basketball more seriously.
“Coach Dale Poffenroth asked me to play in the summer program,” Bowman said. “That’s when it started.”
Bowman was, at least at first, reluctant.
“I told her that I really wanted her to play in the summer program,” said Walters, who was Poffenroth’s long-time assistant before becoming head coach. “She said she would think about it.
“Then I told her dad that I really wanted her to come play for us. He smiled and said, ‘She will. She’s just a little shy.’ “
Walters puts it simply.
“Bowie was a find, that’s for sure,” she said.
Her two loves, soccer and basketball, are compatible.
“I think they really complement each other,” Bowman said. “I’m really used to playing at full speed with soccer, and I think that helped me play basketball at full speed. It’s a pretty easy transition.”
Bowman is now the experienced varsity player surrounded by young players – there are no seniors on a CV roster that features five sophomores and five freshmen.
“I really want to do for these players what they (seniors) did for me last year,” Bowman said. “They were a real part of the tradition of Central Valley basketball.”
This year, Bowman has been the Bears most consistent scorer, averaging 11 points per game, popping for a season-high 15 against Rogers in the team’s break-out game, a 69-56 win at Rogers Tuesday.
“We finally started to shoot the ball in that game,” Bowman said. “We’ve struggled shooting the ball the first few games. We had trouble finding anybody to catch fire, then all of a sudden everybody was.”
Sophomore Tristina Kline erupted for 16 points, scoring eight straight first-half points, against the Pirates.
Central Valley opened the season with losses at Shadle Park and Ferris and at home against East Valley.
The Bears got their first win at North Central by cranking up their defense, holding their opponent to just 35 points – and forcing 35 turnovers – en route to a 49-35 victory last week.
“I think this team has a strong team personality,” Bowman said. “We just needed to get some confidence in our ability to shoot the ball.”
Bowman is a three-sport athlete at Central Valley, competing in track during the spring.
Add that to her year-round commitment to club soccer and you have a busy schedule. Bowman often finds herself running directly from one practice to the next.
“I don’t have a lot of free time, that’s for sure,” she laughed.
The Bears played at Mt. Spokane Friday and face Lewis and Clark tonight at home. CV finishes the 2006 portion of its schedule with home games against Gonzaga Prep and University before taking a break over the holidays.
That may be the most time off Bowman has had in a long time.
“I think we get five days off over Christmas,” Bowman said. “I’m looking forward to that. All I really plan to do is go shoot around. I don’t want to lose my shooting touch.”