Team Preview: Catlin Gabel

Catlin Gabel Making a Statement! By: Oregon3aPredicit After an impressive 22-6 basketball season and making it to the first round of the Oregon 3a state playoffs last season, Catlin Gabel will return four starters from last season, they are looking to build on last seasons success. Head Coach Shawn Malloy has watched his players grow over the last season and can see their hunger for more success, he is expecting that the older players will become leaders with the ability to pass on their knowledge and experience of the game to the younger players. Going into the season Malloy said, ”It will be fun and it will be a challenge for me to prepare each night because there will be no days off for these kids.” Catlin Gabel plays in one of the hardest leagues in 3a, they will most likely play against 2 or 3 of the top ten 3a teams in the state as league opponents. As Catlin Gabel heads into the season they will be looking to accomplish things they didn’t have the opportunity to do last year and show the rest of 3a they have what it takes, they won’t be an easy out when the postseason comes around. Coach Malloy said, ”the goals for my starters are simple, I’m challenging them to be better than last year. This doesn’t base solely on our overall record but them being better teammates and being better individuals. We will have a few new faces on the team so I’m looking for the veterans to lead the way and pass on their experience.” This year Catlin Gabel feels like they have a few guys that are capable of being leaders for this team. Head Coach Malloy thinks this group will be able to face adversity better this season after going through their first season under a new staff and a new structure and seeing the success it brought last season. Last season Catlin Gabel was sent home on a buzzer-beating three in the first round of the playoffs Catlin Gabel will be playing in one of the hardest leagues this year in 3a Boys Basketball. Coach Malloy was excited for his kids making a statement last year while finishing 7th in the state and with a majority of the Varsity players returning they are looking to make an even deeper run into the postseason this year. Catlin Gabel is aware that teams will be looking to bring their best game against them night in and night out. A little bit of background about the Head Coach Shawn Malloy. He is just a guy who loves the game of basketball. Having the opportunity to play at 3 different levels he gained experience and now it’s his turn to relay the information that he has absorbed. He grew up in a small town of Raeford, NC which has produced a lot of competitive players that challenged him to be great in anything he stepped into. This will be his fourth year of coaching basketball, he challenges his kids to grow he also wants to do the same as well. He said, ”I can’t expect anything of them that I wouldn’t expect of myself.” Going into the season Coach Malloy has witnessed a couple of his players growing and getting better, so he is expecting a big year from them. Going into league play is going to be tough every night. Catlin Gabel will have some great competition from De La Salle and you can see the wonderful job Coach Broadus is doing over there. The addition of Horizon makes this league stronger and of course, cross-town rival OES will also be a game to watch this season. Coach Malloy thinks this season is going to be fun and will challenge himself to be prepared each night because there will be no days off for his team. The ultimate goal for Catlin Gabel is to bring home a state title. That’s the goal every year. The basketball program at Catlin Gabel is making big strides forward in making that goal a reality. They look to accomplish things they didn’t have the opportunity to do last year.