By Grace Tirak

The boys basketball team at McDowell High School is eager to hit the courts again for the 2023-2024 season.

The team, led by coach and teacher Kevin O’Connor, is preparing for the coach’s 12th year running program. 

“At practice we have been doing a ton of shooting and conditioning to prepare for the upcoming season,” O’Conner says. 

Losing seniors can be detrimental to a sports team. But the boys basketball team is still looking strong after the loss of the seniors. O’Connor is fully confident in his team this year. 

“We have strong senior leadership, young sharpshooters and a quick-paced team that will help us this season,” he says. 

As many McDowell basketball fans are excited about the rivalry games against Cathedral Preparatory School after going 1-1 with them last year, the coach has his eyes on bigger opponents to get the ball rolling on all their goals this season. 

“Erie, Allderdice, State College, PGH Central Catholic and Pine Richland are our biggest opponents to get through to reach our goals,” he says. 

When taking a look back at last season the Trojans fell short to Erie 45-47 in the D-10 championship game after going 2-0 with them during the season. This year, McDowell is not only looking for redemption, but to take the season even further.

“Our goal for the season is to win all of our home games. Then win regionals, and D10 and then make a run at states,” O’Conner says. 

With a well-experienced team O’Conner believes “all of the guys on the team have the strength and ability to be a stand out player and contribute heavily to the season.” 

The season opener is Dec. 8 at the Marsha Marsh Roundball Classic tournament at the Paul Goll Memorial Gymnasium (home of the Trojans). The team will play Chartiers Valley High School first at 6:30 p.m. The tournament continues on Sat., Dec. 9 with the schedule and times coming out Friday night after the first round of play.