ERIE — When a player like Erie’s Garrett Owen enters a program, it’s hard not to witness the effect he can have on the teammates around him.
High school basketball fans need look no further than Tuesday’s home game for the Tigers, when Owen lifted his team to a 55-37 victory over Mead with the 21 points that he was able to score from all over the floor.
His aggression in the paint helped him sink eight free throws in the process.
“If they take away my drive, I could go in the post and score,” Owen, a 6–3 senior, said. “If they take away my post, I could shoot. If they take away everything else, then, I mean, I’ll pass it. I think it’s just the ability to score at all three levels and then also rebound at a high level.”
If you ask his head coach Jeff Parriott, he’ll say that Owen means a bit more to the team than the simple number on the scoreboard. That, too, has been impressive, as Owen entered Tuesday’s game averaging 18.8 points per game.
He transferred from Belleview Christian ahead of last season.
Erie’s Garrett Owen takes a layup during the Tigers’ game against Mead on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Mead’s Seth Coet makes a pass during the Mavericks’ game at Erie on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie’s Tyler Firebaugh takes a shot as Mead’s Samuel Brennan tries to block him during their game on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Erie’s Christopher Smith takes a 3-pointer with pressure from Mead’s Samuel Brennan during their game on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Mead’s Seth Coet takes a shot during the Mavericks’ game at Erie on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Mead’s Jack Rogowski looks to take a shot with pressure from Erie’s Garrett Owen during their game on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
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Erie’s Garrett Owen takes a layup during the Tigers’ game against Mead on Jan. 20, 2026. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
“I think he’s really grown as a player for us,” Parriott said. “We’ve had him for a year and a half, and I think he’s matured defensively. He’s matured as a leader. He really stepped up in terms of leadership in our group. He’s been really consistent offensively for us. He’s (had) 19 points nearly every night and we’ve needed that. Sometimes we struggle to score and we need his consistency on the offensive end.”
His passion for the game, Parriott said, has been contagious for all the boys around him. In the first quarter alone, Owen scored nine of the Tigers’ 15 points, then he spent the rest of the game helping to drive the offense around him.
In the huddles, he tries to inspire his team.
“I’m just getting on guys when they need to do better, but it’s coming from a good heart,” Owen said. “When I get on them, they know that it’s from a good place and they know I’m not doing it in a bad way. I think I’m more of a lead by example guy more than anything. I want to go out there and put 110% effort on the floor at all times, so I just want all our guys to follow that.”
So far, it seems to be paying off. The Tigers improved to 7-4 with the victory, and will next host Loveland on Wednesday night.