By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

GRANT–The fortunes of the Grant Tiger girls’ basketball program have improved since the arrival of junior point guard Julie Ashbaugh.

Ashbaugh is one of the area’s leading scorers. On Tuesday, she will lead the Tigers into battle against fellow CSAA foe Tri-County.

Last season, Grant finished with an overall record of 11-10 and a league record of 9-5. During the 2020-2021 campaign the Tigers went 5-12 overall and 5-9 in the CSAA (Covid season). In the 2019-2020 season, Grant finished with a 5-16 record and also completed that season with a 5-9 league record.

Then along came Ashbaugh, who has taken on a larger role each year.

Thus far, Ashbaugh is averaging 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and four steals per game. She also averages four deflections per game.

Ashbaugh is shooting 42.3 percent from the floor this season and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Ashbaugh is shooting 70.5-percent from the free throw line (Photo courtesy of LSJ Photographer Brittlynn VanSingel)

“She has led us in scoring and rebounding since her freshman year,” said Grant coach Josh Delamater.  “There are very few athletes that can get up and down the floor as quickly as she can. With our lack of team size, the tempo of the game is very important to us. Julie is the catalyst for that.”

Ashbaugh, in her third season on the varsity level, also plays volleyball, but basketball is her sport. She hopes to play at the next level when her high school career is over.

“Last year, things really started to come together for us as a team,” said Ashbaugh. “My freshmna season was really hard because of the covid situation. Games were getting canceled and it was tough getting enough players together for a formal practice.”

Photo courtesy of LSJ Photographer Brittlynn VanSingel

 As for this season, Ashbaugh is pleased with the improvement.

“We are definitely getting better as a team and I’ve been working a lot on my own personal abilities and skills,” she said. “I’ve been adjusting more heavily on my rebounding game. A big part of my scoring is getting to the free throw line.”

During her freshman season, Ashbaugh scored 167 points. Her scoring is double this season from her sophomore season.

“It definitely has been different this season with being the scoring leader and I’ve never played point guard,” Ashbaugh said. “I just continue to adjust to my new role and just do the best that I can in a game.”

The junior sharp-shooter was an all-conference honorable mention selection in the CSAA during her sophomore season.  She was an all-conference selection this past fall in volleyball.

During the summer months, Ashbaugh plays for Michigan Basketball Academy, based in Grand Rapids. The team travels throughout the Midwest during the summer. She credits Danny Robinson as one of her mentors from MBA.

In the past, Ashbaugh has attended camps at Olivet College, Cornerstone University, Calvin University.

“Julie is a model student-athlete,” Delamater said. “She is a member of the National Honor Society, is on the student council, the Youth Advisory Committee, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Julie is a dynamic athlete.”

Grant head coach Josh Delamater (far left). Photo courtesy of LSJ Photographer Brittlynn VanSingel