Fowler and Portland basketball programs honor late coach Jason Goerge

On Saturday afternoon, the Portland High School boys basketball team traveled to Fowler. Before the game, both teams honored the late Jason Goerge.

Goerge passed away September 17, 2022, at the age of 48.

Goerge took over as head coach of the Portland varsity program in 2019, and was a fixture in Fowler athletics for years before that. His son Jamison served as his assistant coach for the Raiders, and now serves as assistant for the Fowler girls team.

In a June 13, 2019, Beacon article by Robert Lathers announcing the hire, Lathers said, “Area Basketball fans might recognize his name. Goerge has been the Boys Varsity Basketball Coach at Fowler for the past four years. In fact, he has thirteen total years as a Fowler coach including stints as Boy’s JV Coach, Girls JV Coach, Freshman Girls Coach as well as three years as Assistant Boys’ Varsity Coach. Goerge’s roots go deep in Fowler. He grew up there, raised a family there and continues to live there with his wife. Area Basketball fans may also recognize his brother Nathan Goerge’s name. Nathan was just honored as Division 4 Coach of the Year in Girls Basketball after leading the Eagle Girls to their best finish in twenty years and continues as the Varsity Girls Coach in Fowler.”

As the Portland starters were introduced on Saturday, they each ran to the stands to embrace Goerge’s wife LuAnn, and children Jamison and Morgan. This has been a common occurrence this year for the Raider squad.

In his three years at Portland, Goerge compiled a 16-41 overall record. While the record may not show it, the strong connections Goerge built with his players and the community were quite impressive.

The game between Fowler and Portland ended up being a close contest, with Fowler eventually getting a 45-43 win of the Raiders.

On Tuesday the Raiders hosted Ovid-Elsie and picked up a 68-63 win in overtime. The Raiders are now 9-11 overall, and have their final regular season contest Thursday at Mason.