While preparing for the 2021 campaign, there was no possible way to directly diminish the anxiety surrounding the unknown journey in which girls basketball players would soon commence.
Consequently shortening an already-abbreviated schedule, what if one’s roster couldn’t avoid COVID-19? How can a squad maintain an ideal edge without a packed gymnasium of fans providing encouragement? Is viable communication attainable when cloth masks smother in-game chatter? Better yet, can an individual even breathe on the hardwood?
Of course, all of these concerns marinated in Breanna Fowler’s mind before hitting the court for the unprecedented Season B. Meanwhile, Berthoud’s point guard had to devise an altered approach that compensated for leading scorer Emily Cavey’s graduation.
The senior star couldn’t truly alleviate the present’s pressure until operating through 2021. So, instead, Fowler solved the aspect of her career that remained entirely under her control –– the future.
“She got her scholarship and committed to Western Nebraska just before the season,” coach Alan Gibson recalled. “No more wondering if any college wants her, so there was no more pressure to perform. That allowed her to have fun and get as much out of her senior season as possible. With as strange as it was, there were a lot of things that she could have said, ‘man, this really stinks.’ But she took the opposite approach, and it showed on the court.”
As BHS’ coach mentioned, setting her future in stone enabled Fowler’s killing of two birds with one stone as she subsequently let loose and took the often-tricky season in stride.
The guard didn’t merely kick back and joyously soak in the closing stages of her four-year varsity tenure, though. Simply put, Fowler dominated in more ways than one can count with five fingers.
The lively veteran notched team-leading and personal-best marks in points (16.8 per game), assists (5.9), steals (4.3) and blocks (1.1) en route to obtaining the RH all-area girls basketball player of the year distinction.
As for Fowler’s aforementioned focus of upping her scoring, the senior certainly succeeded in doing so upon averaging three more point per contest than during her prior campaign. From her junior stint to final prep chapter, the collegiate contributor to-be also improved her field goal conversion rate to 46%, as well as her 3-point shooting from 27% to 34%.
“I was definitely a lot more confident than in past seasons,” Fowler said. “When I knew I needed to score, I went and scored. When we were down and our scoring wasn’t going too great, I knew that’s when I needed to step up my game and get some points on the board. Because once I started scoring, the whole team followed.”
Eddie Herz/Loveland Reporter-Herald
Berthoud senior guard Breanna Fowler drives for a layup during Saturday’s game against Thompson Valley at BHS on Feb. 20, 2021.Fowler’s self-assurance with the ball in her hand gradually expanded as she successfully determined situations that required individual offensive takeovers –– such as when dropping a single-game-most 25 points versus Roosevelt.
Nevertheless, though she handled the rock more often than years past in dire scenarios, it wasn’t as if Fowler abandoned the multifaceted identity that ascended her through the Class 4A ranks before 2021.
In fact, for the most part, the versatile guard stuck to what she already knew –– impacting each contest in utterly selfless fashion. After all, highlighted by a 13-assist showing at Greeley West, Fowler constituted the area’s top facilitator in 2021.
“She’s so unselfish and always has a pass-first mentality,” Gibson praised. “That still stuck with her this year. Even though she scored a lot, she still wanted to be that distributor and still wanted to make sure all of her teammates were involved. She always was concerned about doing too much offensively, rather than not enough. That speaks volumes to the type of player she is. She’s been a staple for us and a consistent, all-around unselfish player ever since she came into our program.”
Fowler’s style of play genuinely empowered the flourishing of fellow Spartans. However, in terms of the individual effort she dispensed on a daily basis, she was as selfish as can be.
In other words, whether behind closed doors at practice or amid an organized contest, Fowler poured every ounce of energy she possessed into the sport.
And then some.
“She’s a give it all you’ve got for as long as you’ve got player,” Gibson said. “And most of the time, she had 32 minutes to give. That motor never stopped. She never took plays off on defense either. She was always at a high level on both ends. That takes a lot of stamina, but more than anything, Bre has the determination and competitive juices required to play with that kind of effort. She also works extremely hard in practice and strives to have great practices as much as she does great games.”
Fowler rarely mentioned nor exhibited legitimate signs of fatigue on the court –– which is practically unfathomable given the magnitude of aspects she chipped into every contest.
Beyond her scoring and facilitating, the senior utilized nifty, glue-like defending to materialize as the area’s leading steal-specialist. Specifically, she accumulated at least five steals on nine occasions throughout BHS’ 16 games, including a 12-steal performance against Niwot.
Plus, never shying away from the glass, Fowler corralled 3.8 boards per game upon serving as the Spartans’ third-leading rebounder. Still, Fowler seldom requested a breather. Instead, the resourceful asset enjoyed every loose-ball dive and aggressive down-the-lane cut that 2021 offered.
“It didn’t get exhausting at all,” Fowler described. “It’s so fun to be there for your team and be a good role model and leader to the whole team. I just always tried to give 110% and never give up. If things weren’t going our way, I just kept pushing. If I wasn’t scoring, I would try to focus on my passing or my rebounds or my steals or vice versa.”
Other Spartans surely took note of their star senior’s demeanor while constructing a 9-7 campaign. Fowler set the standard for all to follow, which occurred in timely fashion amid her efforts to materialize as a compelling/persuasive leader.
The senior’s spirited and prolific play didn’t only produce the current team’s blueprint for prosperity, but the manner in which the veteran carried herself creates the program’s model for years to come.
Even when Fowler has fully settled into her role at Western Nebraska Community College, Gibson will most definitely mention her name during future practices upon preaching the Fowler way to the incoming waves of Spartans.
“When you have a player like her always giving all of herself, you can’t help but try to emulate that leader,” Gibson said. “It’s one thing to have a great defender, rebounder, passer, scorer. But when you put all of those together in one person who has dedicated herself to the game, to her teammates and to the program, she’s right near the top of the list when you mention role models from Berthoud. She’s who you point to when working with the other girls coming up in our program. Bre Fowler is synonymous with Berthoud girls basketball.”
Amelia Solt –– As the area’s leading 2021 scorer, Thompson Valley’s point guard dropped a whopping 20.2 points on average while utilizing staggering crossovers to frequently leave defenders flat-footed. The junior paced the Eagles in assists (3.4 per contest) and steals (2.6) on a nightly basis as well.
Ally Padilla –– Constituting Fowler’s similarly efficacious partner in crime, the Berthoud junior converted 49% of her total field goal attempts amid a breakout campaign in which she doubled her prior scoring average up to 15.9 points per game. The dynamic guard also piloted BHS’ potency on the glass (8.4 rebounds per clash) en route to finishing the season with a team-most five double-doubles.
Charlee Durtschee –– Picking up where her graduated sister Sydnee left off, Thompson Valley’s center accrued an area-most eight double-doubles via averaging 10.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. While shooting a team-best 47%, the sophomore also nearly had a 20-20 game on Feb. 18, scoring 19 and corralling 20 boards against Riverdale Ridge.
Mackenzie Flikkemma –– Materializing at the forefront of the region’s freshman class, Resurrection Christian’s first-year wing hoarded a squad-most 200 points (13.3 per contest) despite operating off the bench during a significant portion of the year. Amounting to multifaceted brilliance, the freshman averaged 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals.
Taylor Wright –– Though the junior point guard embraced supplementary scoring duties as RCS’ third bucket-getting option, she still notched a respectable 9.1 points and, as the Cougars’ floor general, she led led the squad in blocks (1.1), assists (3.1) and steals (2.6) behind a team-best 0.84 assist-to-turnover ratio.
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All-Area girls basketball: Do-it-all point guard Breanna Fowler captures RH player of the year distinction - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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