Highlights: Memorial vs Central boys basketball
Memorial defeated Central 49-46 in SIAC boys basketball
EVANSVILLE — Heath Howington wasn’t planning on making a change.
He was happy at Memorial High School. His long-term goals even included retirement. But Howington also learned to never immediately turn down any potential opportunities. This one was not just for himself, but his family.
Howington was named the Barr-Reeve boys basketball coach in a special board meeting Wednesday, May 21. He takes over one of the strongest Class 1A programs in Indiana just two months after winning a sectional championship with the Tigers.
In addition to basketball, his wife, Megan, was named the assistant principal at Barr-Reeve for grades 6-12.
“There’s an opportunity to get our entire family in one place,” Howington said. “Our kids will be in the same building with us every day. That was a huge thing for us moving forward. Try to get our family together.”
Also a major plus? Barr-Reeve basketball itself.
The Vikings are the winningest program regardless of class in Indiana over the last 35 years. They’ve won 11 games or more in 50 straight seasons. Among the accomplishments: 18 sectionals, nine regionals, seven semistates and two state championships (2015, 2021). Barr-Reeve went 17-7 last season and graduate three of its top four scorers.
The junior varsity went 19-2 and the freshman team completed a 12-0 season. There’s potential to continue what many others built over the past several decades. Josh Thompson left for Loogootee in April following a seven-year run that included a state championship.
“They’ve been a powerhouse over the years,” Howington said. “We have an incredible opportunity to build on this tradition and also put our own stamp on it. There’s definitely some talent coming back. I’m excited to meet the team. Then we have a coaches’ staff meeting. It will start to feel a little more real.”
A 2002 Reitz grad, Howington earned a double degree in Business Education and Marketing from University of Southern Indiana. His career included stops at North, Eastern Greene, Bloomington South and Harrison before earning his first head coaching position at North Posey in 2012.
Howington won 83 games, second-most in program history, and one Pocket Athletic Conference title across eight seasons with the Vikings. He continued to have success upon a move to Memorial in 2020. His teams went 71-44 the past five years, including back-to-back 18-win campaigns ― the latter culminated in a sectional championship in March.
The Tigers, who lost to Brownstown Central in the regional, return two starters in seniors Dylen Kendrick (8.2 points, 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds) and Maxx Anslinger (8.8 points, 5.0 rebounds). Memorial lost four to graduation, including Luke Ellspermann, the SIAC Player of the Year.
With any new opportunity, it means leaving another. Howington expressed gratitude for his time at Memorial.
“We are forever grateful for our time on Lincoln Avenue,” he said. “Thankful that they gave us a chance to do what we love to do. We’re confident we left the program in a good position. We love Memorial and the community. It will forever hold a special place in our hearts.”