Bowie High Bulldogs Lead in Athletics, Academics

The Bowie High School girls varsity basketball team have much to be proud of this season—they ranked in The Washington Post’s top 20 high school basketball teams, ended the season with 20-4 record, all while still making the grades academically.

The team’s head coach Chris Ferguson couldn’t be more proud of his team, which was a mix of new and more experienced players.

Though Ferguson had been assistant head coach and junior varsity coach in previous years, the 2012-2013 season was his first as head coach of the team. He credits his coaching style in part to the success of the team.

“It’s a lot more running, being in shape not just physically, but mentally, being mentally ready to play,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson said his style is a product of his own team experience.

“We didn’t have a lot of height so we had to run a lot. A lot of running, a lot of trapping, a lot of pressing,” he said.

Although Ferguson said defense was the team’s strength—they led the county with more than 300 steals last season—the team’s offense wasn’t too bad either. The girls lead the county in most points per game, averaging 77, and led the county in three-pointers.

Junior shooting guard Marshauna Butler was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer for the season, and she led the county in three-pointers. She was also named all-county 4A by The Washington Post.

Next season Ferguson expects seven of his players to return, including four starters—Butler; power forward Alexis Newbold, the team’s leading rebounder; small forward Ryan Maynard, who has a 4.0 GPA and is the team’s best all-around starter; and power forward McKenzi Bess, who is a three year starter for the team.

With those four players, and junior Serena Brown, Ferguson expects to have a strong season next year. He’s anticipating a tougher scheduled, but thinks the team will be ready for it.

“We’re returning four starters and I think that’s going to be the key,” Ferguson said.

Also, key, he said, is teamwork.

“Even when the better teams slowed us down and keyed in our better players, other people stepped up,” Ferguson said.

Newbold, Maynard, Brown and Butler have been playing basketball together since they were about 10 years old, so teamwork comes almost second nature, he said.

Ferguson is just as proud of his team’s accomplishments off the court as he is on the court. Last season, the team averaged a 3.6 GPA and many took advanced placement classes, said Ferguson, who emphasizes the importance of academics with his players.

Two of Ferguson’s players, seniors Amara Jackson and Tyra Durrett, are headed to Millersville College in Pennsylvania on athletic scholarships and two of his other players received academic scholarships to Duke and to Ohio State.

“The future for women’s basketball the ceiling only goes so high, so academics are very important for women,” Ferguson said. “It’s very important to get that college degree, “ he added.