With teams gathering from all over, the 49th Annual Dust Bowl has gone off without a hitch in Kendall Perkins Park with competitors of all ages getting in on the fun.
The park has been filled with community members night in and night out since Tuesday, with multiple age groups going toe-to-toe. One of those being Jonathan Moss, who played last season for Daviess County High School and was competing in the 8th Grade age division for Peezo’s Pizza.
In a packed summer for young athletes that typically include a lot of traveling to get games in, Moss appreciates being able to play alongside some of his best friends not far from home.
“I’m just trying to show out in front of my city and just play basketball…” Moss said. “Playing with friends [is my favorite part of the Dust Bowl]. Just getting to play in Owensboro too, because I’m not usually down here because I usually have a lot of AAU tournaments and stuff. Playing down here and playing with my friends is fun.”
With the longstanding history that the Dust Bowl has in Owensboro, the lineage of players and coaches that have participated in the tournament is massive. Brandon Reese—a native of Owensboro that has watched the Dust Bowl since he was a kid—and former Owensboro Thoroughbred Corey Wilford got to experience that first hand this year.
When Reese’s son Xander and his friends wanted to play, he jumped at the opportunity to help them get Team Buckets 2 together, get shirts and get registered in the Dust Bowl. Brandon and his son have loved every second of the tournament this year and its benefits for the kids and they are hoping to continue to come and participate in the future.
“I think it’s a great setting for them,” Reese said. “You got gym time, but out here it’s just a different setting. It’s fun for them and they’re having a great time.”
Wilford has competed in the Dust Bowl a number of times in his playing career, saying he loves the intensity of the games in the park. But this year, he has gotten to see a different side of things as a coach of multiple teams in the tournament.
Along with coaching teams across numerous ages, Wilford is getting to coach his kids as well this year. Being able to help not only his kids, but others in Owensboro and seeing the community unite over a love of basketball is something he believes is vital.
“I used to play in the Dust Bowl so seeing my kids and hearing Wilford on the intercom and I’m not the one scoring, it’s crazy,” Wilford said. This is important with everything going on in the community, as far as the violence and the nonsense. It’s just good to see everyone come together.”
The 2022 Dust Bowl is far from over, as games will be played on Friday and Championship games will follow on Saturday night. For those wanting to check out some of the local hoops action, you can visit https://owensborodustbowl.org for more information including a calendar with scheduled game times.
