Head coach: Michael Robertson (9th year)
2019-20 record: 25-10
The Owensboro Catholic Lady Aces won their third-straight 3rd Region Tournament Title last season and despite Covid keeping them from playing in Rupp Arena, the region is still Catholic’s until the Aces are toppled from the mountaintop.
The Lady Aces have a young squad this season with only two seniors in Catherine Head (5.1 ppg) and Ally Maggard (4.3 ppg).
When having a young team, coaches love having the summer to prepare their team even more but Covid nixed that plan.
“Covid has really made things tough on us but it has done that to everyone,” he said. “We lost out on our summer and with my team this year, being so young, that would have helped us gain some experience and help with getting us ready for the season and then we have also lost our scrimmage games.”
Despite being so young, Catholic coach Michael Robertson says the mindset stays the same in the Lady Aces program as All “A” and KHSAA Sweet Sixteen appearances are always on their mind.
“Our outlook for this season will be to get better throughout the season and hopefully be able to compete for the 9th District and 3rd Region titles,” he said. “We will most likely take our lumps early this season and hopefully learn from them.”
Along with Head and Maggard, Robertson said he’ll also look to junior duo Kinsley Goetz and Camille Conkright.
“I will be looking from these four for their experience and hopefully they can help with getting the young girls up to speed,” he said. “With us losing so much from the last two seasons, we will have to have these four step-up into more prominent roles for us this season.”
Much like the boys’ side, the Lady Aces have several younger players that could make an impact this season as Catholic has a big sophomore class this season.
Robertson said whatever the class of 2023 can do this season, will only bode will for the future of the program.
“If they are able to grow up and be the players at the varsity level that they have been at each level before now, I really like our chances,” he said. “I look for big seasons from each one of them.”
Catholic has a difficult stretch to start the season as the Aces play their first seven games on the road, including tough games against Apollo, Sacred Heart, Bowling Green, Marshall County and Mercy.
Robertson said they have to play well without the basketball this season to get where they want to be.
“For us to be successful this season, I think the key will be how well we are able to play defense,” he said. “I think depth can be a positive for us and hopefully we will be able to wear teams down with the ability to play lots of girls. Not completely set on how we want to play exactly, I think some games we will want to press and get after people but the next game we may want to play more of a halfcourt game and really try not to get the game going up and down. Really for us to be successful this season we have to believe in ourselves and work to get better everyday.
“Our goals aren’t going to change just because we are young. At the end of the day, our goal is to win the 9th District and 3rd Region again.”
