The 2023 high school girls’ basketball season began with Owensboro Catholic playing their first game Monday night. Apollo, Daviess County, and Owensboro will take the court today in their season openers, while Trinity tips off Thursday. Here’s what the local coaches had to say about the new season.
What are some goals you have for the season?
Apollo head coach Mike Riggs: The main goal we have for this season is to develop a growth mindset and continually work to get better. The talent is here to be competitive, but only a few of the girls have actual varsity experience and they’re learning a new system.
Daviess County head coach Natalie Payne: Win the district and advance to the regional tourney; something that has not been done since 2016
Owensboro Catholic head coach Michael Robertson: Goals for our team are the same as usual: To challenge for the All-A Regional Title, 9th District Title, and compete in the 3rd Region Tournament.
Owensboro head coach Jansen Locher: We want to build off last year’s success. First, we have to make sure we are prepared to battle in a very tough and competitive district.
Trinity (Whitesville) head coach Emily Hernandez: We want to play great defense. We will be small so we need to box out well. We hope our defense will create some offense for us.
What brand of basketball can fans expect out of your team?
AHS: We’re going to play hard and unselfish team basketball. This team will not have a ball-dominant guard, so we will be looking to share the ball. Our strength on offense is our interior players; we’ll look to play inside/out in order to generate high-percentage shots. On defense, rebounding, and taking away the paint should be strengths for this team.
DCHS: We expect to push the tempo and get after it defensively. We take pride in our defense and ability to rebound the ball.
OCHS: We would like to get up and down, but we are going to have to find out what suits this team best. We feel like we do have the ability to score, but at this time we are not as good as I would like on the defensive end. Hopefully we will get there. Want to be playing well in February, not December.
OHS: A tough defensive team that likes to apply pressure everywhere on the court.
THS: Our girls will play pressure defense and work hard to succeed.
Who are some key returning players?
AHS: Returning at forward will be Jennifer Lee, a senior who averaged 8 points 7 rebounds last season, who will be looked to for leadership and consistency on both ends of the floor. Jenna Dant (9 points/9 rebounds) is another returner who battled injuries this past season. When healthy she’s as strong a player as anyone in the area, and we look for her to have a breakout season. Seniors Taraya Thompson and Liz Gardner will play major minutes at guard and bring valuable varsity experience. Avery Edge is a new addition who has played soccer at Apollo. She brings athleticism and is very coachable.
DCHS: Some of our key returning players are Zoey Beehn, Lily Hoagland, Kennedy Lane (transfer) Emme Roberts, and Briley Henry.
OCHS: Some key returning players are seniors Hailee Johnson and Jenna Krampe, and juniors Aubrey Randolph and Karmin Riley.
OHS: Some key returning players A’Lyrica Hughes and Unique Carter Swanagan.
THS: Some of our key returning players are Kenzie McDowell, Sarah Payne, Madison McDaniel, Emily McDaniel, and Kylie Hatfield.
Who are some of your younger up-and-coming players?
AHS: We’re going to have a really strong group of sophomores who will be looked at to contribute this season. Aubrey Johnson (guard) and Mattingly Taylor (forward) have lived in the gym this summer and have improved drastically. Marina Boyken (guard) and Jessica Lee (guard) will also challenge for varsity minutes.
DCHS: No response was received for this question.
OCHS: We will look for some freshmen to step up this year after our first five; the rest will be a sophomore and a freshman with no experience. We do have a large incoming freshman class and I do believe someone out of that bunch will make some noise by the end of the season. Who that is, I am unsure of at this moment.
OHS: We will have transfers Shalyn Sprinkles (Henderson), Heleina John (Apollo), and Abby Sapp (Apollo).
THS: We will have Ella Morris, Sophie Hatfield, and Nevaeh Mills.
