‘Bird’ has soared in GSL basketball
“Feed the Bird.”
It was a common light-hearted reference to Heather Bowman at Lewis and Clark last week when six seniors reminisced about careers prior to their final Greater Spokane League girls basketball game.
Bowman was so nicknamed when the gangly freshman joined LC’s varsity.
“She knows it as well as Heather,” said Tigers coach Jim Redmon. “I never called her Bird until this year, but I gave in because everyone else did.”
Followers of GSL girls basketball have become spoiled by the quality of its product over the past seven years.
One graduating class after another has seemingly topped the others in terms of greatness. The class of 2006 is no exception. Bowman has steadily worked her way to its head.
Nine of the league’s 12 1,000-point career scorers have played in the year 2000 or beyond, two of them among this year’s seniors and another who finished scant points away.
Division I college programs throughout the country are dotted with contributing GSL graduates and three more from the class of 2006, Bowman included, are on their way.
Bowman had the GSL’s eighth-best single-season league point total this year with 319 (CV’s Heidi Heintz scored 344 to move into second). Tuesday night she surpassed 1,400 total points in her career, moving within 54 points of all-time leader Emily Westerberg.
More important, the Gonzaga University-bound forward has been a four-year factor for the Tigers, who are going after their fourth straight State 4A basketball appearance.
“Consistency,” was Redmon’s one-word description of his quiet, unassuming star. “I don’t know how many players have given that kind of consistency, game in and game out, especially for four years.”
Bowman has never shot less than 50 percent from the field. She has averaged eight rebounds a game. LC has won nearly every opening tip since she’s jumped center. She has typically been at her best in LC’s biggest games.
What makes her great?
“She’s always been really athletic,” said her dad, Scott, recounting the time, at age 5, when someone gave her a football and she threw a perfect spiral.
She was fast and an excellent cross country runner, he said. She excelled at soccer until basketball beckoned. She became a polished post player with impeccable timing and a great shooting touch.
She has a less common attribute.
“It’s not just the fact she can jump high – she knows when to jump,” said GU coach Kelly Graves. “She has a second burst that’s difficult to find in women all the time.”
She’s also versatile with a perimeter game most don’t know about because LC has had such good guards, Graves added.
Redmon marvels at her hands. “I think she doesn’t get enough credit for her hands,” he said. “There are some basketballs she shouldn’t get her hands on and does.”
She has become something of a legend for her weight-lifting exploits at LC.
When Bowman arrived at LC, there were already stars in residence. Still, she averaged 7.1 points per game as a freshman and increased it 1.5 points in postseason when LC placed at state.
“I had no idea what we could do or anything,” Bowman said. “I was kind of focused on the team.”
Two state trips later, expectations have increased for both player and team. She’s been double- and triple-teamed, but usually gets 18 points per game, while continuing to be a rebound magnet. Redmon said her average would be closer to 30 points if so many LC games hadn’t been lopsided.
“A lot of it is natural ability to jump and get around people,” Bowman said. “Over the years I’ve gotten stronger and it’s gotten easier to do that.”
The thought that she could become that rare player to make four straight state trips hasn’t much crossed her mind, but she acknowledged that it would be “cool” if it happens.
It has definitely crossed Redmon’s mind what LC will miss with the completion of Bowman’s four years.
“I think you know what she means to us,” Redmon said. “She continues to do the little things you ask players to do. She truly will be missed.”
Feed the Bird, indeed.