MEDORA — Jenna Bowers loves to play basketball.

She began playing at an early age in Medora. Medora did not have a girls’ team during her freshmen and sophomore years there, but that did not stop her from playing, so she played on the Medora’ boys’ team for two seasons.

“I started playing basketball at age 9 in fourth grade,” she said. “I enjoy the competition of basketball. I love working hard to accomplish things, and basketball allows me to do that.”

“I was the first freshman girl to start in a boys’ varsity sectional in Indiana,” she said.

She is going to take her game to the next level as she recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Indiana University Columbus.

“I chose Columbus because it is very close to home, and the coach and school staff was very welcoming to me. I felt like home as soon as I got there, and that’s when I knew I was ready to commit.”

This winter she averaged 14.5 points per game with high games of 29 against Hauser and 23 against Greenwood Christian and Cannelton. She broke the single game school record her junior year with 42 points against Bloomington Lighthouse, and she had games of 37 against Crothersville and Lighthouse, and 35 against Seven Oaks last winter.

Bowers was named to the Southern Roads Conference all-conference and SRC all-academic team, and was also named Medora’s most valuable player this winter.

Medora was 7-15 this winter.

Bowers said, “Honestly, I enjoyed the adversity we faced from the being a small team. At times there were downfalls to it but it was always competitive and it only pushed me to work harder.

“In the half-court offense, I typically look to get to the rim rather than shoot the 3, but if the defense is sagging off, I’d take the shot over the drive.”

She said she is going to work on her game this summer.

“This summer I’m definitely going to work on my layup package and ball handling the most. I’ll also get on the shooting gun and in the weight room.”