By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
For the first time in his fourth year career as a starter for the Pacelli High boys basketball team, Josh Owens entered the season with a certain level of comfort.
During each of his first three years in the Pacelli program, the 6-0 point guard had a new coach. But now, with coach Steve Newcomer in his second season on the job, Owens entered the 1999-00 campaign knowing what to expect.
"All three years, it's been a completely different offense, three different styles of play," Owens said. "It takes about five games to get used to it.
"I've had three different coaches in my four years, so it's been an adjustment period for me every year except this year."
Owens' point guard position complicated the transitions from Don Soderberg to Todd Skrivseth to Newcomer.
"Being at the position that I am, I have to know everything on the floor, more than anybody," Owens said. "It makes it tough mentally."
Owens hasn't had to battle that situation this year and is continuing his assault on the Pacelli record books. He entered his senior season as the school's career leader in 3-pointers made and has stretched his lead over Kevin Sullivan (97 from 1992-96) to 135.
"Josh is known for his 3-point shooting. It's nice to know you have someone who can knock it down," Newcomer said.
While he won't catch Jim Menzel's (1960-64) career point total of 1,333, Owens is marching to 1,000 points. Entering next week's Sentry Classic, he has 805 points, which is seventh on the school's all-time list. If he averages 13 points over Pacelli's final 15 regular season games, he will reach the milestone.
That mark will put him in fourth, behind Jeff Zavada (1,182 from 1986-89) and Owen Glodowski (1,169 from 1977-80). He is only 25 points behind fourth-place Mark Zagorski (830 from 1991-94) and could pass him next week.
Numbers aside, Owens is also making a mark as a leader for the Cardinals.
"The biggest thing is his leadership," Newcomer said. "Saturday's game against Assumption was a good example. Assumption put four different guys on him but he still scored 23.
Playing as a freshman helped Owens develop his leadership, which he said is the area of his game that has improved the most.
"As a freshman, I learned from the older guys. The leadership quality is what's come through more than anything," he said.
"Once they realized I could play with them at their level, they were really good to me," Owens said of his freshman year, starting alongside seniors. "It was a good learning experience."
Owens also gained a great deal of basketball knowledge from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women's basketball coach Shirley Egner. Owens' father, Terry, was the university's sports information director while Josh was growing up and Egner let Josh shoot around during her team's practices when he was in fourth through eighth grades.
"When we first got here, she was somebody that took me under her wing," Owens said. "She taught me the thinking aspect of the game. As a point guard she really helped me with that."
Owens hasn't decided where he will go to college next year, much less what sport he will play. He is an All-Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference team member in both basketball and baseball and is a star pitcher for the Plover Post 543 American Legion team.
"Right now, I'm just weighing my options. I won't make a decision until April," Owens said. "I'll probably do one. I'll pick one when the time comes."
In the meantime, Owens and the Cardinals are focusing on CWCC opponents following a tough non-conference schedule. Pacelli, which faced defending state champion Park Falls earlier and takes on Adams-Friendship in the Sentry Classic, has a 1-5 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the CWCC.
With an experienced Owens leading the Cardinal charges, Newcomer has fewer things to be concerned about while Pacelli tries to make a run at the conference's top teams.
"I think his biggest asset is the way he runs our team. He's a great passer and an excellent ball handler," Newcomer said. "With that, we never have to worry about what's going on on top."