Though they fell one win short of having a chance to be the last team standing, Owensboro Catholic has nothing to be ashamed of after a historically successful season.
Their most recent accomplishment — and perhaps most meaningful — was reaching the KHSAA girls’ basketball state semifinal for the first time in program history.
There were plenty of tears following the loss to eventual state champ Ryle in Saturday’s semifinal, but head coach Michael Robertson understood just what it meant to reach the Final Four.
“I’m excited for them,” he said after the game. “They’re not happy in that locker room. I guess you shouldn’t be, but it’s a great accomplishment for this team, for this little bitty school.”
As one of the few states with a single state champion rather than winners for separate classes, Robertson said the Lady Aces should be proud of showing they can hang with perennial powerhouses and larger schools.
“Like everybody says, KHSAA is a special tournament because there’s only one champion,” he said. “Every other state has (more) and we would have been one that actually got one of those championships this year. So for us to be here in the Final Four with a shot at making it to the championship game, I couldn’t ask for much more. I’m proud of them.”
Robertson, of course, was referring to the All “A” Classic state championship his team won earlier this season. By winning the small-school tournament, the Lady Aces tied the record with three All “A” Classic championships.
It was during that tournament that the success for Catholic really started to take shape, and it almost didn’t happen.
In the second-round game against Murray, his team trailing by 2 points with 40 seconds to play, Robertson elected to let the clock wind down. Senior Madelyn Lyon drained a 3-pointer for the win, and the Lady Aces brought home the title two days later.
Catholic played with renewed spirit the rest of the year, largely dominating opponents the rest of the way. They finished the season 17-0 against 3rd Region opponents, with each win coming by double digits.
Another district championship led to another region title, and the Lady Aces earned a second consecutive trip — and third in four years — to the KHSAA Sweet 16. It was the seventh ever appearance at state, and the four most recent have come since Robertson took over in 2012-13.
Catholic could make it a 3rd Region three-peat next season.
The Lady Aces will take a step back when they lose Lyon and fellow seniors Mackenzie Keelin and Sarah Beth Clemens, as the three combined for about 28 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Still, several players will return with a good amount of varsity experience under their belt. Hannah McKay will be back after leading the team in scoring and rebounding this season, while ball-handlers Caroline Reid and Harvey will also return.
Isabella Henning provided key minutes off the bench all year, and Ally Maggard also saw plenty of action throughout the season.
Between their dominance in region, another All “A” title and their deepest run in the Sweet 16, the Lady Aces gained plenty of valuable experience that they’ll try to carry over to next year’s squad. Though the rest of the 9th District is on the rise, Catholic’s success over the last several years has proven they will likely be another top contender.
