Cassidy Rowe, right, and Ross Osborne, left
Shelby Valley junior Cassidy Rowe gave her verbal commitment to Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell before she started her high school freshman season. She has overcome two knee injuries — one the summer before her freshman season and a second one last summer — to get back on the court.
Shelby Valley has another talented player in freshman Ross Osborne, who played on the basketball team as an eighth-grader and is expected to be the starting quarterback as a freshman.
“When they were younger they both actually played up on a fourth-grade basketball team together,” said David Osborne, Ross’ father. “Her dad was in my wedding. They have kind of grown up around each other.”
Who would win now if they played a one-on-one game?
“He could shoot with her at times but he cannot handle the ball like she can,” David Osborne said. “She is a good player, smart player. She has a good family, works her tail off. I hope she stays healthy this year and can really show what she can do.”
Shelby Valley girls coach Lonnie Rowe, Cassidy’s father, said Ross Osborne has “gotten stronger” and developed his basketball skills.
“But Cass said she could still outshoot him,” Lonnie Rowe said.
The two Shelby Valley athletes actually played against North Laurel standout sophomore Reed Shepherd on that fourth grade team — and won the game. Shepherd is the son of Stacey (Reed) and Jeff Shepherd, both former UK standouts.
“When they were younger it was fun watching them play,” Lonnie Rowe said. “You could tell both had high IQ’s.”
