A fourth consecutive trip to the Region 3 Tournament is on the line this season for the Owensboro Catholic boys’ basketball team, but head coach Tim Riley is hoping for even more.
Riley led the Aces to a state tournament appearance in his first year during the 2015-16 campaign, and they missed out by one game last year by losing in the region championship to Apollo.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to go to the regional tournament the last three years — all three years I’ve been here,” Riley said. “Ultimately the goal is to make it back and try to win it.”
Last year also featured several in-season accomplishments, such as four separate four-game win streaks. The Aces also advanced to the All “A” State Tournament, and they beat Apollo in the District 9 championship.
Senior Peyton Survant is the top returner for Owensboro Catholic, but the Aces also added a talented player with senior John Parker, who transferred from Ohio County.
“He’s one of the top players in the region, so he’s going to make a big difference for us,” Riley said of Parker.
Parker is the No. 2 player for Region 3 in the The Cats’ Pause preseason rankings, and Survant is ranked No. 9. Parker averaged 13.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game a year ago, while Survant averaged 3.6 points and 1.0 rebounds, respectively.
Owensboro Catholic will also rely on a handful of players who have limited minutes, but Riley expects them to provide some key help.
Juniors Drew Hartz and Andrew Riney saw some time last season, while seniors Ty Vincent and Zach Cecil will have to step into bigger roles for the Aces.
The regular season will feature plenty of tough games to help prepare the team for a postseason run. In addition to participating in the Owensboro Invitational Tournament, the Aces are playing in the South Central Bank-Halton Classic at Allen County-Scottsville.
Between the two tournaments, Owensboro Catholic is in fields that include all District 9 squads and other highly-ranked teams in the area.
Riley said he expects the team to take some time to fully gel and find the best way to compliment one another on the court, but he thinks his players have what it takes for another successful year.
“I think we’re a talented team,” he said. “We just have to figure out how we’re going to play together. We have some depth, so it’s just going to be about how it all comes together.”
