THE COWBOY WAY-ALEXIS FOWLER
Committing to play college basketball at Connors State was pretty much a no-brainer for Warner High School product Alexis Fowler. But when former coach Jamie Fisher, who recruited her left and spring turned into summer without a new coach, Alexis admits she started worrying a little.
“I always knew I would go to Connors because it’s close to home so my family could always come to see me play and because I had been taking concurrent classes there already. But when coach Fisher left, and summer came, and we still didn’t have a coach, I did look at some other schools but ultimately decided to stay here.”
New Cowgirl coach Jaylen Thompson, who wasn’t hired until August, is glad she did.
“I talked with Alexis for half an hour or so the day after I was hired, and I felt like she would fit well with what I was trying to do and she really desired to play at the next level. She’s the first player off the bench for us and is averaging about 10 points a game andis an excellent three-point shooter. She’s working to get better defensively which she knows she needs to do.”
Alexis was part of a strong class at Warner High that went 22-5 her junior year and made it to the state tournament for the first time in 20 years.
“That was a crazy year,” said Alexis. “We beat Dale in the area tournament which almost no one does but lost at state to Howe.”
Transitioning from high school to college ball is always tough but Alexis felt she was better prepared because she played travel ball until her sophomore year.
“Travel ball is more fast paced like college ball, and you play tougher competition but still getting used to a shot clock and the fast pace with fewer set plays than in high school is tough. You really have to love the game to do it.”
Creating strong team chemistry has also been a challenge with Connors returning just three players this year, but Alexis, who could have lived at home, chose to live in the dorm 24/7 with her teammates to strengthen team chemistry and help some of her new teammates adjust to small town basketball.
“Some of the girls come from big towns and so I’ve had them to my house for a home-cooked meal and I’m kind of the team chauffer since I know where everything is in Warner and Muskogee,” she smiled.
Although she’ll have the credits to graduate this spring, Alexis wants to hone her skills to be able to move to the next level.
“I hope to get better and faster and want to keep playing. I don’t want to give it up yet.”
Going to Connors has been the right choice for Alexis Fowler and she offered this advice to other high school seniors.
“Connors is a place where you know almost everyone on campus and it’s easy to make friends. Academically, if you do your work, it’s easy to make good grades,” said the student who frets if she starts making Bs.
