Filling up the stat sheet with countless high scoring games and racking up highlight plays throughout the season, senior Amari Robinson-Wales and junior Kenyatta Carbon have formed one of the best backcourts in the region at Owensboro High School.
With the regular season nearing its end, the Red Devils have one game left before the postseason begins. They are sitting at 18-7 overall, went undefeated (6-0) in 9th District play and are 10-2 against 3rd Region opponents.
Owensboro’s success is in large part to their dynamic duo in Carbon and Robinson-Wales, as they average 21.0 ppg and 19.6 ppg. They are also the team’s leading rebounders, as they average 8.0 rpg and 5.0 rpg respectively.
Robinson-Wales has been with the Red Devils for five years, while Carbon is in the midst of his third season. Owensboro Head Coach Rod Drake said that when the two joined the program, he didn’t think he would see the level of success the two have had offensively.
“I never envisioned these guys would score like they have,” Drake said. “They’re both 1,000 point scorers and good kids overall. Our kids look up to them… It’s because of their work ethic and respect for the game. They’re both a joy to coach.”
While the two average around 20 points per game, the Red Devils duo’s consistency as a backcourt tandem has been unmatched. The upperclassmen guards have scored at least 20 points each in four games, while Robinson-Wales has cracked the 20-point mark individually at least 12 games and Carbon has done so at least 10 times—with four of them being past 30 points on the day.
They also hold impressive clips from the field, as Robinson-Wales shoots 55.6% from the field with a 50% mark from three (14-28) and Carbon shoots 51.2% from the field with a 36.6% clip from deep (15-41).
Drake says that it is the playing experience that the two have shared that really has helped them grow, noting that they should be considered in elite status when it comes to backcourts in Kentucky High School basketball.
Robinson-Wales agreed with Drake’s notion, stating that he doesn’t feel like there’s many guard duos that can step up to the plate every night like he and Carbon do.
“Nobody can really stop us,” Robinson-Wales said. “I don’t think anyone in our region, or maybe even in the state can keep up with our backcourt.”
While they are physically stronger than a lot of guards in the area, the mental determination and focus both have is something that helps elevate their game.
“I think we both just want to win for real,” Robinson-Wales said. “We just do what we have to do to get the W. Whether it’s me taking the backseat to him getting a bucket, or him taking a backseat to me getting a bucket, [we get it done].”
Carbon said that while their athleticism, movement without the ball and their shot selection are key factors in what makes them such a tough backcourt, it’s their defense that really gets the two and Owensboro as a whole going.
These facets of their games make Kenyatta and Amari threats to take over games for the Red Devils at any given moment as well—Carbon’s latest 20-point fourth quarter performance against Owensboro Catholic is a prime example—which is something that Drake knows is huge to have under their belt.
“The good thing about it is that if it happens again, it’s nothing that he hasn’t done before,” Drake said. “When you know that he’s got that in his arsenal you always keep it in the back of your mind. One of the good things too with them is that you’re never out of the ballgame with those two guys.”
And Carbon even thinks that he and Robinson-Wales can elevate themselves and the Red Devils to a whole new level as the postseason nears.
“We haven’t gotten to where we want to be just yet,” Carbon said. “I feel like we can accomplish that this year if we keep just playing hard and keep playing defense. I think we’re in pretty good shape at the moment.”
Robinson-Wales said that he knew in his junior season that the Red Devils would have a special group. Having not made it to state last year like he thought they would, they’re determined to take their past postseason experiences to help them reach state this year.
“We need to come out and play hard at all times,” Robinson-Wales said. “We can’t take any plays off at all. We just have to keep playing hard throughout the whole game.”
Drake said that he’s happy to know those losses are in the back of Robinson-Wales and Carbon’s minds, stating that the duo’s ability to lead by example has helped the rest of the team really improve and gel together.
“It’s huge,” Drake said. “As we’ve discussed this before, it’s hard to tell somebody to do something when they’re not doing it or not capable of doing it. And they do a great job of that and they play hard and show up like they’re supposed to, so they really do set a great example for our young players.”
Owensboro has its regular season finale against Henderson County at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, as the Red Devils will look to dial it in one last time before the postseason.
“I always tell our guys that in the state of Kentucky, basically what your season is is a dress rehearsal,” Drake said. “Then you’ve got six ballgames and you win those six ballgames or you don’t. You’ve got a 28-game dress rehearsal, so how you prepare for it is up to you.”
Drake feels like the Red Devils are in a pretty good place and Robinson-Wales, Carbon and their teammates all have one goal in mind—making it to Rupp Arena for state.
Owensboro’s postseason journey will start with the 9th District Tournament first, as they are set to take on Apollo at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 at Daviess County High School.
