Charleston vet leading unbeaten Blue Jays into SEMO Tourney

Fourth-year Charleston High School boy’s basketball coach Jamarcus Williams has a roster full of question marks early this season, as he is learning who can elevate their game to the varsity level. However, in the case of senior forward Ko’Terrion Owens, there is nothing unknown about him, other than just how high is his potential on the court.

“We talked earlier,” Williams said of his sit-down with Owens prior to this season, “and I told him that he is going to have to be ready to play 28, 30, 32 minutes a night.”

The unbeaten Blue Jays (3-0) will open the SEMO Conference Tournament today as the No. 6 seed and face No. 3-seed New Madrid County Central (2-0) at 7 p.m. at the Sikeston Field House.

With Williams’ directive, Owens appears to be in much better physical condition on his 6-foot-3 frame than in years past.

“He is not only going to have to play those (big) minutes,” Williams continued, “but he has to be the man for 32 minutes.”

Owens has taken his physical stature to another place so far this season.

He not only has led his team, which most felt would struggle to varying degrees this season due to the departure of several players who either graduated, or in the case of one starter, transferred, but Owens has also displayed a higher skill level than in years past.

Owens scored 21 points in the Blue Jays’ season-opening win against Horn Lake (Miss.) in the Riverbend Shootout and followed that with a 20-point outing against Dexter. In that latter victory, Owens drilled a 3-pointer to help stymie any Bearcat hopes of a rally.

“I’m expecting him to show people even more this year,” Williams told Semoball.com earlier this season. “I’ve been really pushing him to take more outside jump shots the past two years however our guard play has been so strong there was no need. But now, he’ll be playing inside and outside. He’s shown that he can hit some outside shots over the summer and in practice and hopefully, that carries over into games.”

In Charleston’s most recent win, a 66-52 thumping on the road of Notre Dame, Owens scored 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting while also hitting all three of his free throw attempts.

“He knew it coming into this season,” Williams said of Owens’ acceptance of his bigger role. “He’s excited about it and he has accepted that role.”

Owens is not only producing offensively for Charleston, but in the win over the Bulldogs, he also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished off eight assists while making five steals.

“So far,” Williams said, “he has excelled.”