A BASKETBALL FEATURE: AVERIE LOWER

Averie Lower will leave high school FOREVER this year. Scary, right? What’s not scary though, is her athletic accomplishments in basketball and volleyball during her years at CCA.

Lower first started playing in her wee little years. “I started playing basketball at a very young age. Around 1st grade. Volleyball I started around 3rd grade.”

Each year, about 430,000 people play girls’ basketball in high school. Despite this, only 16,000 play girl’s basketball in college annually. An even smaller amount of people play division 1 girls’ basketball; ~5000 yearly. An even smaller amount of people play division 0 girl’s basketball, at a grand total of 0 players.

AVERIE LOWER PREPARING TO MAKE A BASKET; PHOTO BY KAILEE CARVER

As well as all of that, the lower numbered division tiers are only played by the most best-est and biggest colleges. So to achieve such a position would be a very great achievement.

Now, you would think that after talking about all this, this article would go on to say how Lower achieved the most-est, best-est sports division in only the most-est, best-est college.

“[Sports] have taught me grit and how to be a great teammate and leader. Basketball especially has taught me to persevere and have a very strong work ethic. I would say sports have affected me positively.”

Unfortunately, Averie Lower never got as far as division negative 67. She didn’t even reach division 0, either. If she had, she would’ve been the only player in either of those divisions. 

What did Lower achieve? Division 1 basketball! You know, like, the division that’s only a bajillion divisions lower than all those negative ones I totally didn’t make up did not expect to be where I am today, especially with basketball. I always dreamed of playing Division I basketball so it is very cool to see that dream has come full circle. I would not be where I am today without the many coaches along the way and my very supportive family.”

As Lower moves on from elevated school (or one might say “high” school), she plans to go to Arizona State University.

“Going forward I plan to play basketball at Arizona State University. I have an amazing coach there and coaching staff that I cannot wait to have coach me. I leave in the summer for workouts to begin my journey in Arizona hoping to have many supporters back at home and at CCA.”

Lower will continue to further her academic knowledge in college (learning in a place of learning is groundbreaking information am I right) and is very grateful for all of the support and encouragement she’s received during her high school years.

“It is crazy to think that this is my last year of high school. I will be graduating and furthering my basketball and academic career at Arizona State University. I am very excited for that next chapter in my life and will not forget all of the coaches and many teachers that have helped me along the way and shaped me into who I am today. High school was an overall good experience for me and I am so grateful for the school's support throughout my journey.”