Owensboro Catholic seniors Ally Maggard and Catherine Head have been been on Lady Ace teams that have won an All “A” Classic State Championships and have made multiple trips to the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen but this season they’re doing something they haven’t had to do exclusively before.
Lead a team.
As Catholic’s only two seniors, Head and Maggard have had to step up as leaders this season and both players have enjoyed the roles they’ve acquired.
Head said they saw themselves as that before the year even started.
“I really saw both Ally and I as leaders,” she said. “We knew that we were young this year so we really needed to step up and be a voice on the court and kind of echo what the coaches say. Be a real leader on the court for the players.”
With several underclassmen on the roster, Maggard said it’s been fun instilling in them what it means to be a Lady Ace.
“It’s been great,” she said. “We have a lot of young girls and they look up to us as role models. We just come in with great attitudes every day and be positive leaders, it rubs off on them. It’s just a great way to have them come in with the same mindset as us and all work together.”
Last year’s leading scorer for the Aces was Hannah McKay, who’s now running with the Racers at Murray State. McKay averaged 18.6 ppg and 9.8 rpg, a near double-double last season for Catholic.
Maggard said she learned a lot from the former Lady Ace.
“We definitely lost a lot of height and a lot of talent from last year but something we have learned from those girls is you’ve got to play hard every game, every play,” she said. “Go hard for every 50/50 ball like it’s your last. Just got to play your hardest. You can’t give up. You’ve got to work hard every time.”
Head agreed and said Maggard is giving it her all when it comes to replacing the void left by McKay.
“They left some big shoes to fill and we’ve been trying like heck,” she said. “Ally’s done a great job filling Hannah McKay’s spot, no one is ever going to be as good as she was, she was a key player but we’ve all kind of stepped in and done the little things.”
Catholic has had to quarantine once this season but they’re currently at 8-3 and have won three of their last four games, with all three victories coming against 3rd Region teams.
With everyone going on and with their season always in doubt, Head said it’s been a hard road.
“It’s been really difficult, not going to lie,” she said. “It’s been challenging but it’s been so much fun. We have such a great group of girls so it makes everyone get in the gym and working. We’re all wanting to get better, we’re all wanting to do good. We’re just going to do whatever we can to make this season great.”
Maggard said she wants the underclassmen to carry one thing with them after this season.
“There’s a lot of unknowns and a lot of things pushing to stop our season,” she said. “You just got to go with the mindset every game that this may be your last game so you’ve got to give it your all and play your hardest. You’ve got to play for your teammates, not just yourself. All the girls on the bench, all your coaches, everyone watching up in the stands. You’ve just got to give it your all.”
