FERRIS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LANDS ALLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCT

Samantha Johns Added To Bulldogs’ Recruiting Class For 2004-05 Season

The Bulldog women's basketball team has announced the addition of Allendale's Samantha Johns

The 5-9 Johns guided Allendale High School to the program’s first 20-win campaign (21-4) by averaging 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game during the 2003 season. The four-time (2000-03) All-Ottawa Kent Silver Conference selection also led the Falcons to their third-straight district championship and attained honorable mention all-state accolades in 2003.

“Sam’s a solid athlete who’s eager to play college basketball,” said Fisk, who received the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (GLIAC) 2003-04 Coach of the Year Award. “She runs the floor well and scores in transition, which fits our style of play and will allow her to excel in our system.”

Johns, who concluded her prep career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,262 career points, was the Falcons’ leading scorer four consecutive seasons. The four-time (2000-03) Detroit Free Press Scholar-Athlete Award recipient led AHS to a conference title in 2003 while serving as the squad’s team captain. A two-time (2002-03) all-area honoree, Johns registered 16.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per outing as Allendale compiled a 13-11 overall record in her junior campaign (2002). Her prep coaches included both Brad and Susan VanTimmeran.

“We expect Sam to compete for playing time at the wing position,” Fisk said. “Her ability to penetrate and score off the dribble as well as penetrate and find an open shooter will make her an exciting player to watch. She wanted to be a Bulldog and the close proximity will provide her family and friends an opportunity to see her play on a regular basis.”

A four-year letterwinner, Johns also competed in softball and was active in AHS’ National Honor Society, Graduation Committee and the Athletic Advisory Committee. She played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Shoreline Hoops squad. Johns, who’s the daughter of Russ and Wanda Johns, plans to major in elementary education at Ferris State.

Johns joins Lindsey Deyo (Battle Creek/Gull Lake), who inked with the Bulldogs during the fall 2003 signing period, and Rachel Folcik (Powers/Carney-Nadeau) as FSU’s 2004-05 recruits to date.

The Bulldogs, who concluded the 2003-04 campaign with a 21-10 overall record, compiled a second-place 14-4 GLIAC North Division mark and reached the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament for the second time in school history. The 2003-04 campaign, which was the program’s 30th anniversary season, marks the eighth consecutive year the Bulldogs have won 10 or more games and their second 20-win campaign in the last five seasons.