Owen Chambers Reflects on Days at Coudersport: Foreshadows Career Hopes While at Merychurst

Matthew (Owen) Chambers helped continue the strong tradition as of late that is Coudersport Falcon basketball. The combo guard took District 9 by storm with his incredible shooting ability, but the entire district saw continuous improvement in his ability as a passer and point guard. Fans and spectators also saw growth in Owen beginning his freshman season at just 5’10’’, but graduating high school at 6’3’’. The once small shooting guard grew into a stud point guard who averaged over 30 points a night as a senior.

    Chambers ability to score the basketball is no secret; he left District 9 as the all-time leading scorer with 2,269 career points. He attracted interest from all three divisions in the NCAA, but ultimately decided the Division II game was where he most fit. Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA was one school that was interested in Chambers. After a visit and noticing the Lakers advancement to the Elite Eight in the 2018-2019 NCAA Division II Tournament, Chambers decided that playing basketball in a winning program was what he wanted to do at the college level as well.

    “I played for winning teams and program my entire life. Mercyhurst coming off an Atlantic Region title really peaked my interest. I just felt like Mercyhurst was a suitable option because of the choices I had to major in and the chance to play winning basketball.” This season, Chambers finds himself in unfamiliar territory. He accepted a redshirt that is ultimately going to benefit him for the remainder of his college career. “This year will allow me to pick up another major or pursue a masters degree. It also will allow me to get stronger and improve my defense. I think that is the weakest part of my game right now, but Meryhurst is a school that is always one of the best defensive teams in the country. Coach (Gary Manchel) has helped me improve a good amount on defense already in just a few months.”

    Looking back to high school, Owen was a significant player from his very first day at Coudersport High. He was a three year starter and the sixth man as a freshman. His lethal shooting ability was something that few teams and players could stop over his four years as a Falcon. Coming into his junior season, he knew he had a realistic chance to net his 1,000th point around half way through the season. Going into a game on January 10th, 2018, he was sitting at 963 career points. It was a mark that seemed to be two games away, but Chambers responded with a 37 point performance to lock up exactly 1,000 career points. “After that game, I spoke with my sister and asked her what the District 9 record was and what pace I needed to be on to reach another milestone of 2,000 points. We both figured it was realistic, so I set my sights on those next marks while keeping in mind I want to win every game I play as well.”

    Chambers did plenty of winning at Coudersport, and in fact, he never lost a Northern Tier League game in four years. Chambers also helped lead the Falcons to four appearances in the PIAA state playoffs to go with two D9 titles. Chambers was also a two time Big 30 and Northern Tier League MVP to go with multiple all-district teams and a first team all-state selection as a senior. The numbers 1,000, 1,907, 2,000, 2,258, and 2,269 all signify significant milestones in the career of Chambers. 1,000 points is the mark every basketball player hopes to get to as a high schooler which Chambers did as a junior. 1,907 was the school record which Chambers eclipsed as a senior. His 2,000th career point marked him as one of six all-time in District 9 to reach that milestone. 2,258 cemented him as the leading scorer in D9 history, while his 2,269th point was the last point he scored for his legendary four year high school career.

    When speaking to Chambers where his scoring ability comes from, he listed a few key factors in his life that helped make him a better player and athlete overall. His older brother Michael is four years older than Chambers, and he used to invite younger brother Owen to play pick up basketball and sports with him and his friends. Chambers was always the smallest kid on the floor, so he needed to find a way to score. Developing and working on his shooting ability was his way of doing that. As a grade schooler, the Chambers family made the investment of putting in an indoor basketball court for their family to use. The result was helping not just their kids, but kids from around the area play more basketball and more sports overall.

    Chambers from a young age got his usage out of the court, and it helped him platoon his abilities; especially his skills as a shooter. “Growing up, I always made sure to get a workout in, but we have had plenty of pick up games at my house over the years. It gave myself, my family, and my friends somewhere to play and get better for many years.” While Chambers is obsessed with the game of basketball, he has proven that he understands how to set himself up for a successful career. Chambers is a forensic accounting major with an interest in intel. He is looking to add the intelligence masters degree while he stays to play his fifth year with the Lakers. This career is one that is familiar to the Chambers family as his dad Mark is a certified public accountant who moved to Coudersport to begin his career in the profession and decided to stay and raise a family with his wife Jennifer, who have five children in all (Annie, Sarah, Emma, Michael, and Owen).

    Over the years, Chambers has had some of the area’s best coaches by his side, including his father Mark who was one of his first coaches. He credits coaches Furman, Easton, Sherry, Green, and Laugand for their work they have put in to help him develop as a player and as a person over the year. While there is no doubt that Chambers will be a great scorer for the next four years, this summer, Chambers will be focusing more on lateral quickness to become the best defender possible. Improving his defensive ability from Chambers will be the secret formula for a standout career at the college level as well.

    While basketball is his first choice to make a career out of as a player or coach, he is setting himself up nicely in order to succeed off the floor as well. Playing in the PSAC, one of the best Division II conferences in the country, will help Chambers get a lot of attention if basketball is what he is serious about making a career out of. “I am looking forward to just getting some minutes, winning some games, and scoring the ball over these next few years like I have been doing.”

    While the 2019-2020 season is one that Chambers will never show up in the box score on, it can be certain that the former D9 great will make a big splash over his remaining four years of eligibility. His ability to score the ball and his continued effort and attention to improving as a defender will suit him well as a member of one of Division II’s best basketball traditions. The PSAC soon will figure out that you need to always be aware of where Owe Chambers is on the court at all times.

Photo Credit to Matt Durisko and Mercyhurst University Athletics