LONE TREE

With each passing game, Kasey Chown further cements her legacy within the Lone Tree record book.

Last week, the 5-foot-8 senior forward collected eight rebounds in a game against both English Valleys and Wapello. That pushed her career rebound total to 636, a new record for Lone Tree girls’ basketball.

“Huge accomplishment for her,” Lone Tree Coach Ryan Shelman said after the Lady Lions lost to Wapello, 49-37, in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference game Tuesday night at Lone Tree High School. 

“Big for our program just because it is good to have that individual success, but we also want to have that team success, too. Your team is made up of a group of individuals and we enjoy and are happy for her that she was able to get it.”

Shelman presented Chown with a plaque and announced the record to the home crowd before the Wapello game. The previous school record of 626 career rebounds was established by Jalynn Quigley, who graduated in 2008.

“Pretty proud,” Chown said. “I have worked hard.”

Chown was brief when describing her rebounding technique.

“Boxing out and holding your girl back just so you can jump up and get the ball,” Chown said. “Make sure you jump, too.”

When it comes to rebounding, Chown has been a remarkably consistent performer throughout her four varsity seasons at Lone Tree. As a freshman, she averaged 8.0 rebounds per game. She equaled that mark as a sophomore and increased it to 10.5 last season.

This year, Chown averages 8.7 per game. It is the fourth year in a row that she has been the team leader in that category. 

“It doesn’t surprise me that she has as many rebounds and was able to set this accomplishment,” Shelman said. “Because hard work leads to rebounds and she has a knack for finding her way to the basket and finding those rebounds and those are things that make her such a good player and a hard guard. 

“She does it on both ends. She doesn’t just rebound on offense or defense. She does it on both ends and that is something that she is working really hard on. We talk all the time about going to the block and getting the boards and getting her hands to the glass, active and things like that.”

Despite the fact that she spends most of her time playing outside of her natural position, Chown has led the Lady Lions (5-14, 3-11 SEISC) in points in 16 of 17 games this season, and in rebounds in 15 of 17.

“She puts in the time, she puts in the energy,” Shelman said. “We spend a lot of time, specifically with her. We have her playing a little bit out of position. She is more of a true forward and we have her playing our true center. She does a good job. She would do anything I asked her to do and I appreciate that. She is coachable. She has learned a lot of things over our years and she has just developed as she has aged. She is a good player. Very coachable. We are just proud of her.”

Chown has seen a steady uptick in scoring production throughout her career. She averaged 4.6 points per game as a freshman, 7.8 as a sophomore and 11.3 last season. 

Entering Friday’s game against Louisa-Muscatine, Chown paced Lone Tree with 13.8 points per game. This season, she has failed to score in double figures just twice, has posted double-digit numbers in both scoring and rebounding in the same game four times and has scored at least 20 points four times, including three instances in her eight games leading into Friday.

“Just getting more confident with the ball,” Chown said. “Once you get the ball, look to score and if you don’t have it, look to pass.”

Chown – also track standout for Lone Tree – has not determined whether college or the workforce awaits her after high school. Until then she relishes the opportunity to provide positive, productive leadership to a roster where all but six players are freshmen or sophomores.

“I think it is good, watching them improve,” Chown said. “Just throughout the year, even. And it will be good to watch them improve in future years. ... I have been in their shoes.”

Lone Tree closes the regular season this week with road games against Columbus Junction and Hillcrest Academy before hosting the SEISC Shootout on Friday.