Recognizing local talent while also showing love to local schools, the Owensboro Thoroughbreds will host the first ever High School All-Star Competition prior to their game on Friday.
The theme for Friday is School Spirit Night, in which Thoroughbreds owner Chris Allison said they want to focus on the schools in the Greater Owensboro Area. Owensboro will be wearing 1990 Kentucky Wesleyan championship season uniforms during the game and a number of schools will have performances, such as dancing by Owensboro Middle School and singing from the Sutton Elementary Choir.
“Our new Director of Operations, David Clark, came in and started making suggestions for our charity theme nights,” Allison said. “This one made the most sense to make happen for the School Spirit Night. He put in all of the leg work to set the rosters and make it happen.”
Prior to the Thoroughbreds matchup with the Indiana All-Americans, players from Owensboro, Apollo, Cloverport, McLean County, Ohio County, Muhlenberg County, Grayson County and Butler County will face off against each other.
Divided up into two teams, the North and South will face off in a game that will have two 10-minute halves with a running clock. Some of the local upperclassmen include Apollo’s Jaden Kelly and Grant Smith, as well as Amari Robinson-Wales from the Red Devils.
“During the 3rd region tournament, the thoroughbreds were the player of the game sponsor for 102.7 the game broadcasts,” Allison said. “We vetted a large amount of the players through their performances during the tournament and their individual seasons.”
Along with the game, there will also be a 3-point contest at halftime that will be boys versus girls. The game will start at 6:15 p.m. and Allison said that the hope is to pack the Sportscenter with those wanting to support these high school athletes and to make it a fun-filled night for the community.
“The primary goal of the event is give the upperclassmen a fun opportunity to play again post basketball season in this great venue,” Allison said. “We hope to have their family, friends, and schools represented at the Sportscenter.”
Allison said that they hope to do an event like this once again in the summer or fall on a larger scale, hoping to continue to create community events with a philanthropic purpose that occur year round.