Coming off back-to-back losses in which they totaled 71 points, the Owensboro Catholic girls’ basketball team ran away from Owensboro for a 94-43 9th District home win Friday night.
The Lady Aces (9-5, 3-0) used a hot start, with Mackenzie Keelin and Sarah Beth Clemens combining for 15 points in the first quarter. The Lady Devils (6-8, 1-2) faced a 28-10 deficit heading into the second.
Clemens added 10 points in the second to lead Catholic to a 54-28 lead at the break. For Owensboro, Amaya Curry scored 13 of her 16 points in the first half.
OCHS head coach Michael Robertson said the defense stepped up and really locked Owensboro down after halftime. The offense, he said, was clicking the entire game.
“We played better defense in the second half,” he said. “The first half we let them dribble around us, but we scored 52. I thought offensively, we shared the ball very well. We looked for our teammates and did all the little things we’ve been asking them to do this week on the offensive end.”
While it was Clemens (20) and Keelin (18) who led the scoring effort, Camille Conkright provided some big minutes off the bench and finished with 8 points. Robertson said Conkright has been valuable as she continues to improve her game.
“She’s a wild card — not that you don’t know what you’re going to get,” Robertson said. “She’s just a freshman, but she’s given us great minutes. I look forward to her progressing. I love her energy and the way she gets out there and fights. If she continues to do that, take care of the ball and run the offense, she’s going to continue to get minutes.”
The bench contributed 36 total points Friday night, and Robertson said getting them involved will be key as the Lady Aces continue to play tough competition.
“Our record is 9-5 now and we’ve taken some lumps, but we’ve played some good teams and we’re going to continue playing good teams,” he said. “We want to continue to improve.”
Catholic travels to Sacred Heart on Saturday in what Robertson expects to be another tough matchup.
“I expect them to get all up on us and really attack us,” he said. “We’re going to have to be smart with the basketball. They’re going to be that team that we’ve had troubles with this year. They’re going to be aggressive and up in our shorts. We’ve got to be able to stay calm, attack the basket and look for the open person.”
The Lady Devils are off until Monday, when they travel to Logan County.
SCORING
OCHS 28-26-21-19–94
OHS 10-18-13-2–43
OCHS: Sarah Beth Clemens 20, Mackenzie Keelin 18 (5 reb), Hannah McKay 12 (10 reb, 5 ast), Madelyn Lyon 9, Camille Conkright 8, Isabella Henning 8 (4 stl), Spencer Harvey 6 (4 ast), Laryssa Rogers 4, Ally Maggard 3, Caroline Reid 2, Kinsley Goetz 2, Randchelle Johnson 2
OHS: Amaya Curry 16, Victoria Whitlock 7, Tayona Greer 6, Mykael Winstead 6 (7 reb), Krystell Pappas 4, Nia Gonzo 3, Tamia Smith 1
