After not making it to the 3rd Region Championship for the first time in three years, the Aces are looking for a full-team effort with a revamped roster to find success this upcoming season.
Owensboro Catholic finished the season with a record of 17-13, finishing as runners-up in the ninth district tournament and falling to Muhlenberg County 58-43 in the first round of the 3rd Region Tournament. Long-time head coach Tim Riley will face a challenge this season with a much different squad from a year prior.
The Aces will look a lot smaller this season as big men Ji Webb (Owensboro) and Jari Barber (Warren East) each transferred. Coach Riley emphasized that rebounding and defense will be a key to his team’s success this season.
Although the frontcourt might be a question mark for the Aces heading into the season, their backcourt is set. They will be returning an experienced guard duo consisting of fifth-year senior Brian Griffith and senior Parker Gray.
Griffith has been a part of the Owensboro Catholic basketball program since his eighth-grade year, and will be on the chase for his 2,000th point of his career this season. The guard averaged 18 ppg coming off an injury last season, as he also led the Aces in scoring with 23 ppg in his junior campaign. Parker Gray is coming off an impressive junior season himself averaging 13 ppg and hitting nearly 50 three-pointers on the year.
Coach Riley expects sophomore guard Luke Beickman to be an impactful newcomer this season. Another newcomer is Aces quarterback and third baseman Brady Atwell who has decided to bring his talents to the hardwood.
Returning starter Tutt Carrico, Reid Clark, Kaiser Frick, Deuce Sims, Vince Carrico, and Waryn Ebelhar are all football players that will have the opportunity to contribute on this deep Owensboro Catholic squad this season. Coach Riley mentioned how the extra-long football season has affected his team’s preseason preparation.
“The success of our football team has us behind,” Riley said. “We also have four football guys who are presently not practicing due to injuries… [we need to] get healthy and stay healthy.”
Regardless, he and the Aces are ready to get the year going and will host the Greenwood Gators on November 29th at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Owensboro Sportscenter to open up the season..
