Cougar Pride runs deep in the family of senior forward Arianna Bowden. She followed in the footsteps of her mother, who ushered the Crenshaw girls’ basketball team to a City Section championship. The banner she won hangs in the rafters of the Willie West Pavilion at the school.
“Her banner is ‘93-’94,” Bowden said. “She’s always telling me ‘get up, go to the gym and work on shots on the weekends,’”
Bowden comes from a long line of Crenshaw Cougars; her grandfather is a member of the football team coaching staff and she has relatives who are alumni and former faculty.
Bowden maintained her academic integrity while leading the Cougars to an undefeated Coliseum League record. The team elected her as captain for her senior season, Bowden mentioned how her teammates look up to her.
“It’s all about respect,” Bowden said. “I respect them just as much as they respect me.”
She averaged 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She had a career night during a playoff game against Van Nuys, scoring a season high of 18 points and 16 rebounds. In a game against Manual Arts, Bowden made seven blocks.
Her efforts on the court made Bowden the Crenshaw girls’ basketball Player of the Year, according to MaxPreps.
To get a head-start on her college curriculum, she is taking college-level courses. Bowden is also studying AP Biology and has a fondness for math, she is currently taking Pre-Calculus.
“I just get it and I like science too,” she said. “It’s not boring and I like to learn.”
Bowden aspires to pursue a career in the medical field in the future.
“I want to be a surgeon, so that’s why I’m like piling up on math and my sciences,” she said. “I’m good in it, so it only makes sense to be a doctor or a nurse.”
Bowden mentioned how head coach Dominique Harris would advise the team on keeping their attitudes in check.
“Whatever you have going on outside, don’t bring it in the court, just play the game or you could take it out on the floor,” Bowden said. “But, don’t take it out on your teammates and don’t get an attitude with the coaches and stuff.”
The advice Bowden would give to young athletes is to be committed to getting good grades and being a formidable opponent.
“Your grades are always first and when you get in the gym, go hard every time,” Bowden said. “Don’t take the time that you are in the gym for granted.”
