Edmonson Voice Sports:
With two senior nights rained out and failed attempts at reschedules, it looked like Senior Night for the Edmonson County Lady Cats wouldn't happen for the lone senior on this year's squad, pitcher Julie Norris.

Thanks to some creative work from the Lady Cat staff, teammates, and the Norris family, a last-minute Senior Night was able to happen at James Woodcock Field at ECHS on Sunday, May 18th after practice.

Julie was honored along side her family when practice concluded on Sunday, as the team prepared for first game of the District 12 Tournament, hosted in Whitesville tonight at 7PM against Butler County (9-22).

Norris has been the starting pitcher in all 25 Lady Cat games this year. She has an ERA of 3.43 in a total of 161.1 innings with 149 strikeouts this season. She also has the second-highest batting average on the team this year (.383) with five home runs.

She is the daughter of Brent and Pauline Norris of Chalybeate.

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
Sandwiched in between storms rolling through the Mississippi Valley and up past Edmonson County, Wildcat baseball was finally able to complete a last-ditch senior night Thursday, May 15th in Brownsville.

Storms rolled in cancelling home games Monday and Tuesday, so a last attempt for a make-up was scheduled for Thursday.

With only one senior on the team, it made for an easy ceremony as senior third baseman Garrett Lyons was flanked on both sides by his teammates as he mounted the field from the home dugout to meet his mom and dad at home plate with, of course, a small bouquet for mom.

All things considered, it was a beautiful night for baseball with a slight breeze in the humid, approximately 86-degree air with a cloudy cushion above to keep the sun off the field.

Despite a few errant large rain drops scattered intermittently throughout the game, the Wildcats were able to come out strong in the first inning and hold down their visiting opponent Todd County Central Rebels.

​It helped having junior right-handed pitcher Hunter Wilson on the mound tossing darts across the plate.

In the previous night’s work for Wilson, he surmounted the 300 strikeout mark for his career at Edmonson County, and he earned another 15 to his tally against the Rebels in 7 innings pitched Thursday.

Wilson allowed only one hit and 4 BBs, facing 28 Rebel batters. He helped his cause with two hits and a walk in three plate appearances with an RBI as well.

Wilson said he didn’t think he would be in the race for beating the strikeout record at Edmonson County, now in place for around 15 years, according to head coach Michael Meredith.

“It’s amazing,” Wilson said before the game. “It’s something I didn’t see happening coming in. Starting varsity in seventh grade I did not think I would even be in this spot to beat the record. Being in this spot to beat it is amazing.”

He noticed last year after surpassing 200 strikeouts, he could be close. Now with his junior year ending with over 300 strikeouts, the target 375 record is within reach.

He thinks he will break it as long as he stays healthy, he said.

​“There’s very few pitchers that get the opportunity to get that many, but it’s because he’s worked hard,” Meredith said before the game. “It’s not because of me. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever coached.”

One thing that makes his career stat so impressive is the fact he achieved it with the team having a dozen games cancelled due to weather and Wilson missed a potential four more starting opportunities to increase his K’s, Meredith explained.

“We’ve won three out of the last four,” Meredith said. “So, hopefully we have peaked at the right time. Hoping for a win tonight.”

With District play starting next Monday, Meredith hopes his team is ready, he said.

The Wildcats were able to score one run in the first, second and fifth inning each, while holding the Rebels to just the one hit through seven, for a final score of 3-0.

Lyons was able to get on base twice with two hits in three at bats. The Wildcats made eight hits in the game through 24 at bats and only struck out six times.

“It feels great to come off a win,” Lyons said in the dugout after his final regular season game as a Wildcat. “I’m definitely gonna miss it. Always gonna wanna come back here and play, but I am glad I ended it with a win.”

With weather rolling in, there is a game scheduled for tomorrow, 5:30 p.m. Friday May 16 at the Bluegrass Blazers Home School, but if it doesn’t cooperate, District play is scheduled to begin Monday May 19.

Lady Cat softball also struggled with finding a game to celebrate senior night for their lone senior, Julie Norris, due to the same problem with recent weather cancelations. Norris has been a staple of Lady Softball for several years.

They will begin district tournament play next week in Whitesville.

The Wildcats are set to face Butler County at 5 p.m. in Morgantown May 19 to begin their District 12 Tournament.

Photos by Joseph Barkoff:

Edmonson Voice Sports:
ECHS Junior Brayden Johnson has won his second consecutive Region 3 Tennis Championship.

The third region tennis tournament kicked off Saturday, May 10th, at the Owensboro Tennis Complex, where the ECHS team had eight participants. Junior Brayden Johnson, the tournament's top seed, was the only Wildcat to advance and had a bye the first round.

On Saturday, Johnson defeated Grayson County’s Ethan Kingrey: 6-0, 6-0, which advanced him to the quarterfinals. On Monday, Johnson defeated Hancock’s #1 Lukas Anderson: 6-1, 6-0. After advancing to the semifinals, Johnson then defeated Owensboro Catholic’s #1 Jack Haines:  6-2, 6-3 to advance to the finals on Tuesday, where he defeated overall #2 region seed, Daviess County’s Landon McDuffee: 6-7, 6-1,  with a 10-6 super tie breaker.

“Brayden came through last night  under immense pressure— in front of a large crowd—against an outstanding opponent., said ECHS Tennis Coach Jodi Johnson. “He showed great composure and played his best when it mattered the most.”

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
The Edmonson County Lady Cats just couldn’t wake up their bats against the visiting Grayson County Lady Cougars Thursday, April 24th at home in Brownsville.
 
They were unable to capitalize with both runners on base and scoring position. When the bats were working, sometimes there was a Lady Cougar standing in a place as if they knew exactly where the ball was going.
 
Grayson County came out and scored early in their first at bats, putting two runs on the board.
 
“I think offensively we have to understand when you get positions to score you have to execute those chances,” Lady Cats head coach Alex Jane Massey said after the game. “You can’t keep expecting and working hard to get your runners on base and then not scoring. That’s the whole point of offense. So, we have to learn that.” 
 

​The Lady Cats had 26 at bats with only 6 hits and 1 base-on-balls, plus 6 strikeouts against the Lady Cougars.
 
“We’re real young, for a majority of us, so I think that is something these kids are still learning,” Massey said. “But they have to have that sense of urgency, discipline, that want to step up and do a job at the plate.”
 
Lady Cats starting pitcher, senior Julie Norris, threw all 7 innings and allowed 3 hits, an earned run and two walks with 3 strikeouts. She threw a total of 77 pitches, 47 were strikes and she faced 28 batters.
 
The Lady Cats play next on Friday, April 25th at 5:30 p.m. against the Bowling Green Lady Purples.

Photos by Joseph Barkoff:

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Edmonson County junior Lady Cat basketball standout Cariann Williams signed a letter of intent today to play basketball for Campbellsville University upon her high school graduation in 2026.

A large crowd gathered today in the ECHS gym where former, present, and future coaches discussed the attributes from Williams as they wished her well. Several speakers were featured including ECHS Athletic Director Kyle Pierce, who spoke first.

"I believe you can see by the crowd just what type of person they're going to be getting at Campbellsville," he said. "She's well regarded here at high school."

Pierce described her as "one of the best people around."

Former Head Lady Cat Coach Bart Weaver spoke next. He discussed the first time he saw her play as a 7th grader and he knew she was already advanced as an athlete.

"Campbellsville is getting a great player, we know that. They're getting a great student. Coach Pierce just talked about her GPA (over 4.3), but also, you're getting a great person of faith," Weaver said. "Those three things right there mean the world in today's society."

He said when a coach finds a player with all three attributes, that coach has hit the lottery.

"To me, Campbellsville has hit the lottery."

Current Lady Cat Head Coach Jody Booth said you won't find a better person in the community than Cariann Williams.

"She's a leader in our community, for our high school kids, our middle school kids, somebody that they can look up to, and follow in her footsteps with academics, community involvement, and when it comes to sports, she takes care of that as well," Booth said.

He discussed some of her impressive stats, going back to her 7th grade year. She has already scored over 1,000 points, pulled over 1,000 rebounds, and has over 500 blocks, with one season as a Lady Cat yet to come. Booth said he expects her to be within the top three girls scorers in school history by the end of her career, and she is already the girls' leader in all-time rebounds.

Williams finished the 24-25 season as the leading scorer at 18ppg and the leading rebounder at 13.5rpg.

Lady Cat assistant coach Maddie Stewart said she first met Cariann when she was working at Campbellsville after graduating from there a couple years before.

"She had an incredible will to perfect her craft of basketball, it was something I figured out really, really quick," she said. "For her, words that come to mind are hard work, integrity, relentless, and winner."

Campbellsville Head Women's Basketball Coach Ginger High Colvin then spoke about signing Cariann.

"I think we're clear on what Cariann is," she said. "Anybody can walk in a gym, watch her on the floor, and realize she has every tool needed."

She said she saw early on in Williams' career that she worked hard to improve and she always showed a drive to play for the Lady Tigers.

Williams then addressed the crowd, humbly and emotionally, thanking multiple groups of people, including the Edmonson Voice, her teammates, teachers, former and current coaches, and her parents and siblings.

She thanked the Campbellsville coaching staff for making her feel wanted and welcomed during the entire recruiting process.

"Every time I've been on campus, I've felt welcomed, loved, and part of something special. The coaches treat the girls like their own, I've stayed there multiple times and every time I've felt at home. The girls feel like sisters and the coaches feel like family," she said.

Williams said after high school, her next goal will be an NAIA national championship as a Lady Tiger.

She is also a member of the ECHS track team. Multiple speakers today referenced her decision to sign as a junior, not a senior, as is typical. Williams wanted to make sure that the seniors from this season would be in attendance, which spoke of her admiration for her teammates, several coaches said.

She then signed her letter of intent with her parents by her side, followed by cheers from the audience. Dozens then lined up for a photo op with the new Lady Tiger signee.

Cariann is the daughter of Jonathan and Whitney Williams of Brownsville.

Darren Doyle, story: Alyssa Doyle, photo:
Pitching a one-hitter in high school baseball is an extremely solid performance and worthy of recognition. Adding 18 strikeouts to that performance raises eyebrows. Then when noting that the pitcher was responsible for all 21 outs, it becomes even more impressive.

That's the type of night that ECHS junior Hunter Wilson had on the mound for the Wildcats on Tuesday, April 15th at home against their district rival, Butler County, where the Cats won 3-1.

Wilson pitched the 7-inning complete game on 107 pitches, 71 of which were strikes. He struck out 18 batters over the course of the game, fielded two bunts for assists to first base, then caught a line drive for the out, getting all 21 outs himself.

Wilson was also 2-2 at the plate.

Head Coach Michael Meredith said in being around the game of baseball as a fan and coach his entire life, he's never seen the type of performance from one single pitcher, despite the fact it wasn't a perfect game or no-hitter.

"He had 18 strikeouts, threw two bunted ball attempts out at first and caught a line drive up the middle.  I’ve never coached a game where one kid was responsible for 21 outs," Coach Meredith said. 

But he also noted that Wilson would be the first to credit first baseman Drew Pierce for his part in the outs, as well as catcher Logan Key for getting the job done behind the plate.

"I love this bunch of players," Meredith said. "They are having to grow up this year as we really only had two returning starters. We took some on the chin, but I am tickled we are 3-0 in district.  We just have to get better everyday and keep working hard and I believe good things can happen for us."

The Wildcats are 5-6 on the season and travel to Metcalfe County tonight.

Coach Doyle said he is hopeful that these new resources will change the trajectory of Edmonson County High School’s golf program, allowing them to build a more competitive team for the future.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Drive Fore The Future," Doyle said. "This donation gives our athletes the opportunity to reach their full potential and compete at a higher level, which will ultimately shape the future of our program.

Drive Fore The Future continues to partner with schools across the country, helping young athletes access the equipment and resources they need to succeed in the game of golf, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

For more information on how to support Drive Fore The Future or to donate, visit www.driveftf.org

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:

The Edmonson County Wildcats rallied three runs in the fifth inning to defeat the visiting Allen County-Scottsville Patriots 3-2 while hosting at the Bowling Green Ballpark Thursday, March 27th.

It was a pitcher’s duel from the start, as the sun set in Bowling Green. The infield was in shadow before the lights kicked on and the sun had completely set when in the 3rd inning ACS scored two runs.

​The Wildcats hung in there and in the 5th inning were able to manufacture three runs.
 
With Edmonson County sophomore Tyson Meredith on second base, sophomore Eil Meredith on first and junior Hunter Wilson at bat, Hunter was able to knock in both Tyson and Wilson with a double.
 
The next at bat was another double from Edmonson County junior Drew Pierce and the Wildcats were up 3-2.

​Edmonson County’s pitcher Tyson was able to see the game through to the end, completing all 7 innings. Tyson allowed 6 hits, 2 runs behind 2 errors with 6 bases on balls and 8 strikeouts.
 
He threw 109 pitches with 65 strikes, facing 32 batters.
 
Edmonson County defends their diamond at home 6 p.m. Monday March 31 against Warren Central.

Alyssa Doyle, story and photos:
The Edmonson County Wildcats defeated the Trinity Raiders 12-1 in five innings with a walk-off grand slam from junior Hunter Wilson on Monday, March 24th at Wildcat Field.

Wilson was also lights out on the mound as he struck out twelve batters, allowing only one hit and one run on the night.

Eli Meredith started the bottom of the first with a single to center field. Wilson walked and Drew Pierce followed with a single to left. Trinity walked in two runs, leaving the bases loaded for Chase Bullock to hit a grounder past the Raiders’ third baseman to knock in two more runs. Edmonson leads at the bottom of the first 4-0. 

The Cats added to their lead in the bottom of the second with two hits from Eli Meredith and Pierce, and a single from Wilson, scoring two runs. Garrett Lyons hit a sac fly to score Wilson. Edmonson ended the second inning with a 7-0 lead.

Edmonson picked up another run over the third and fourth innings and the Raiders walked two Wildcats and hit Bullock with a pitch, loading the bases in the bottom of the fifth. Wilson hit a grand slam to left field, scoring four runs for a total of six RBIs for the night and beating the Trinity Raiders 12-1 in the first district match up of the season.

Eli Meredith led Edmonson at the plate going 3-3 with Wilson and Pierce following close behind, each going 2-3.

Edmonson County is now 2-2 on the season and will take on the Raiders again Tuesday night at the Whitesville Community Park.

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
 The odds of playing college athletics may be long, but Edmonson County High School’s Julie Norris showed she is ready to make her dream, a dream many young women have, come true.
 
Norris signed a letter of commitment in the ECHS Gymnasium, in in front of family, friends, faculty and staff to play for Campbellsville University in Kentucky just after noon Friday, March 21st.
 
Campbellsville was busy playing a game, so the head coach was unable to attend, but the Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment at Campbellsville University was on hand to deliver paperwork and a jersey.
 
How cool is it they are picking up Norris?
 
“No, it’s awesome,” Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment at Campbellsville University Khalil Baker said before the signing. “I think we are honored to have Julie here. She’s extremely impressive, very professional, you can tell that she cares about anything she is involved in. She’s very passionate about it and she always wants to be the best version of herself, so I think it’s awesome and we are glad she is coming here.”

​In the school year 2022-23, there were 357,110 high school softball players, according to ScholarshipStats.com. Of those, 34,678 were able to make the next step into college ball. Only 2.7% played in Division 1.
 
In the same time period, the National College Athletic Association lists the odds of making it to college level play at an overall of 6.3 percent and just 2 percent are able to compete at the Division 1 level, according to NCAA.org.
 
Campbellsville is a Division 2 NCAA school, still putting Norris in the top 6-7 percent of all high school athletes in the nation for softball.
 
Why Campbellsville?
 
Norris’s head coach, former teammates, former and current coaches all have some connection to the school.  
 
With all those people dear to her heart, it was an easier decision to make, Brent Norris, Julie’s dad said.
 
Norris has taken hitting lessons since she was around 10 years old from a program run by Campbellsville coaches called BSA Softball, Brent said.

​Edmonson County High School athletic director Kyle Pierce commended both Norris and her family at their year-round level of commitment to sports for Julie, he said.
 
“I really want to commend you for what you’ve done for Edmonson County High School,” Pierce said. 
 
Norris is also a triple-threat, explained Pierce about Norris earning varsity letters in three sports a year, which included softball, basketball, and volleyball.
 
“There’s never been a challenge that I can say that Julie has backed down from,” Massey said. “She always accepts challenge. I think she craves challenge, slightly. She wants to overcome whatever it is that’s put forth in front of her.” 
 
Massey is proud to see Norris’s dream to playing at the college level “come to fruition,” she said.
 
Norris’ dream began when she began playing softball in eighth grade, she said.
 
“I am so excited,” Norris said after the signing. “I love the idea of just playing at a high level and stuff like that and having all these girls who are dedicated, like obviously the high school is dedicated, but they’ve gone above and beyond.”
 
With the saying around, once a Lady Cat, always a Lady Cat, sure doesn’t make the stretch that hard to know Norris will be a Lady Tiger next year too. Still a Lady Cat.
 
Edmonson Lady Cats take to the diamond on the road against Breckinridge County at 5:30 p.m. March 21 in Harned. 
 
 

Edmonson Voice Sports:
The ECHS Tennis team returns to action this week as they travel to Meade County on Tuesday for their season opener. 

The team has three returning players:  junior, Trystan Hardin, senior captain Addison Browning, & junior captain & defending 3rd region singles champion, Brayden Johnson.  The 2025 team consists of 16 players, ranging from 7th-12th grade. 

"We have a hard-working, cohesive group of kids," said Coach Jodi Johnson. "The majority of players are beginners with a determined desire to get better. I am excited to see them experience success. It is our goal as a program to increase our overall wins by the end of the season & for Brayden to win back to back region titles. I sincerely appreciate the loyal support from our community & school system." 

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
Endings are difficult. Tournaments are no cakewalk either.
 
Edmonson County Lady Cats knew heading into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association 3rd Region Tournament against Daviess County Panthers at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro, it would be a test of everything they had learned and achieved over the past two seasons.
 
The Lady Cats were 4-8 since 2010 against the Lady Panthers, according to stats curated by Edmonson Voice Live Jamie Carnes.
 
This season they were 48th in defense, 3rd in free throw percentage and 5th in 3-point percentage in the state.
 
The Lady Cats this year were 39th in defense, 39th in rebounds and 12th in free throw percentage.
 
“Regional Tournament is a different animal,” Edmonson County Lady Cats head coach Jody Booth said after the game on the Edmonson Voice Live Post Game Show. “And our girls found that out tonight but I don’t want to take anything away from them and I told them coming out, there is no reason to hang their heads.”
 
Booth pointed out the stat brought to light last week where Edmonson County has not won a Regional Tournament game at least since 1997-98.
 
“There’s a reason for that,” he said.
 
Daviess is a really good team, and he would put them in the finals against Owensboro Catholic, Booth said.

​“It’s very physical,” Booth said. “It’s not anything that you are used to during the regular season.”
 
Fouls did not seem to be called as abundantly as they might during the regular season, but it was not called evenly, which is a distinction from the regular season.
 
“We had chances, I feel like,” Booth said. “I feel like we had some good looks and we just couldn’t knock it down.”
 
He feels the physicality of the game pushed his players out to the 3-point line more and away from the paint, he said.
 
It has been noted by Booth and the Voice Live, they need to win in the paint to be successful.
 
In the last meeting against Daviess, January 28th, at the beginning of the season, despite winning by 2 points, they felt they lost the battle in the paint, Edmonson Voice Darren Doyle explained.
 
They talked about not settling for 3’s, touching the paint and going inside more, Booth said. 
 
“But I don’t care who you are, it’s easy to talk about it, but when you’re out there doing it, it’s just a very tough game to play in,” Booth said.
 
There is nothing for them to drop their heads about, he said.
 
Except maybe one thing.
 
The only thing Booth will drop his head over is thinking about not having the same group back again next year he said. After having taken over and being with the team now for two years, for the first time he knows next year will look different.
 
“We started 0-5 and I am just proud of where this group came, and getting to cut nets down last week and stuff,” Booth said. “It’s a success.”

​The Lady Cats ended the season with a respectable 19-9 overall win-loss, with 12-3 in the 3rd Region and 7-1 in the 12th District, according to Kentucky High School Athletic Association. They also claimed their 5th District 12 title in the last eight seasons.
 
“It’s the growth and maturity of this group,” Booth said last week after winning the district championship.
 
“These are great examples for younger players to follow and say ‘you know what, I want to be like her,” Doyle said to Booth on the Edmonson Voice Live Post Game Show. “I want to be like Jenna. I want to be like Kennadi.”
 
Doyle feels their leadership is a testament to the coaching staff as well, he said.
 
Yes, everyone always would rather a win than a loss, but the memories of earning a District Championship and making it to the KHSAA Regional Tournament will be memories the players will have for the rest of their lives. It is a positive experience, despite the loss.
 
Some teams, sometimes, when the going gets tough will turn on each other.
 
The Lady Cats did not.
 
Not once did anyone speak negatively from the team during the game, Booth said. They were always positive and encouraging of each other. 
 
Booth didn’t think this would be his last night coaching this team, he said.
 
“But that’s part of life,” Booth said.
 
Booth feels all four of his graduating seniors will go on to do great things and have bright futures, he said. Even better than basketball.
 
“So may great things to remember,” Booth said. “So many great things to come.”
 
He is excited for kids coming back and feels they are a great group, he said. Especially because they now see how tough the Tournament is and he feels it will be motivation for them to get back, Booth said.
 
The future?
 
They are going to get better and better and continue to move on, Booth said.
 
He also looks forward to his graduates coming back and sharing their adult positive experiences helping their community, he said.
 
When the final buzzer sounded the score was 29-48 in favor of Daviess.
 
Some unofficial stats for the Lady Cats on the night saw junior power forward Cariann William with her stock double-double, scoring 10 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Shelby Sowders scored 10 with 5 boards. Senior shooting guards Jenna Cook and Kennadi Swihart both scored 3 points and Cook hauled in 6 boards and Swihart 1 rebound. Senior power forward Julie Norris also scored 3 points and had 1 rebound, according to stats curated by Doyle.
 
The Lady Cats did win the rebound battle with 24 versus the Lady Panthers’ 21. 
 
For some, the next season might seem like next year. For the Lady Cats, Booth is ready to start planning as he formulates this year’s exit speech. 
 
Any way the future is viewed, it seems bright for the Edmonson County Lady Cats.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​There might be something in the water in Edmonson County. Maybe it’s the cheese sticks with magical properties at the KHSAA 12th District Championship 2025 host Trinity High School Thursday, February 27th in Whitesville.
 
“It’s the growth and maturity of this group,” Edmonson County Lady Cats head coach Jody Booth said after winning the 12th District Championship.
 
Indeed.
 
The odds showed the Lady Cats at a numerical disadvantage against their rival opponent Grayson County Lady Cougars.
 
Since 1998 the Lady Cats were 22-45 against their neighbor Lady Cougars. 
 
This season, the Lady Cats lost their first game against the Lady Cougars on December 13, 2024, by a score of 41-48. When they met for the second time this season January 24, 2025, the Lady Cats were victorious by a commanding 52-36.
 
The Lady Cougars have won more District Championships than any Lady Cat parent would like to admit, Edmonson Voice broadcaster Jamie Carnes said.
 
Adding to the comfortable-in-big-games-mindset adversity the Lady Cats faced against the Lady Cougars, the Cougars also carry a scorer who is 40th in the state, and the team is 17th in free throw percentage at 70 percent per game as well as 43rd in 3-pointers, according to stats curated by Carnes.
 
The Lady Cats have their own ranked in the top of Kentucky too.
 
The No. 39 in the State in shooting happens to also be No. 4 in rebounding from Edmonson County Lady Cats junior power forward Cariann Williams at 14 per game.
 
The Lady Cats are also 33rd in defense with 42.6 points allowed per game, No. 6 in rebounding in the State hauling in 43.2 rebounds per game and 12th in free throw percentage at 72 percent, according to stats curated by Carnes.

 
“Just us,” Booth said, quoting and summarizing Phil Jackson who won 11 NBA titles. “You can’t worry about other teams, you can’t worry about other fans, you just gotta go play basketball. And when you have a talented group like we do that play well together, when you just focus on ‘just us’ it’s some pretty basketball.”
 
Pretty it was. 
 
It was tough too.

​“We told the girls, District Championship, it’s always gonna be tough,” Booth said after the game. “So, it’s just us.”
 
“There were times where we were really challenged tonight,” Booth said. 

By the end of the first quarter the Lady Cats trailed the Lady Cougars 10-11.
 
But then things seemed to settle a bit more with Edmonson County and all those deep breaths they were taking before game.
 
The Lady Cats would end the first half outscoring the Lady Cougars 14-7 and at halftime the score was 24 to 18 in favor of the scoreboard home team.
 
Some other stats at the half saw both teams with 8 rebounds each, according to stats curated by WildcastLive Darren Doyle on the Edmonson Voice Live Half Time Show. The Lady Cats were shooting 8 for 20 from the field and 5-8 from the free throw line. They also had 6 turnovers versus Grayson County’s 8 team turnovers.
 
Each starter stepped up and played some of their best basketball yet this season.
 
If Williams was the fantasy starter for rebounds, she did not have her usual numbers by the end and she fouled out with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter.  
 
Williams would make her mark on the game and would end her night with an impressive 21 points and 6 rebounds, plus a handful of blocked shots. Six rebounds is excellent, but Williams seems to push herself up to 11 and plays better than excellent.
 
As well, it is not often she gets to play against young women her height, and despite having less mass than her tall Lady Cougar opponent, she won the battle of the inside for the evening.
 
It was 47-39 in favor of the Lady Cats with 2:55 left and senior power forward Maggie Cassady would come off the bench to offer some assistance.
 
“Playing without Cariann, it’s not the first time we’ve done it, but it definitely makes it harder,” Edmonson County senior power forward Julie Norris said. “Cause you always know she’s gonna be there for you if you mess up on something, so it’s definitely hard playing without her.”
 
But Edmonson County showed they could still play without their star forward. 
 
Booth reminded his players about being without her on the floor against Daviess County, “for the longest time.”
 
“So, go finish the job,” Booth told his players.
 
He trusts the kids, he said.
 
“I know they are gonna play smart knowing they have those two or three fouls,” Booth said on the Post Game Show. “It’s great to watch that you can trust those kids.”
 
Play smartly they did. 
 
One of the smallest people on the court, in terms of physics, might be senior shooting guard Jenna Cook. She plays as though physics do not concern her because her speed, timing, toughness and tenacity saw Cook grab the most rebounds for the Lady Cats on the evening with 8. She also scored 5 points and had a handful of steals.
 
Edmonson County Lady Cats sophomore point guard Shelby Sowders scored 15 with 5 boards while keeping the ball safe, moving it up the court and out of trouble most of the night. 
 
One new skill Sowders has recently exhibited is a reverse layup and at first, she had done them successfully going left. Against Grayson she showed either direction is a score.
 
Fellow Lady Cat starter and physics denier, senior shooting guard Kennadi Swihart is the balance and other half to Cook’s speed, timing, toughness and tenacity. Knee-brace-equipped Swihart fearlessly swarms her back court opponents attempting to move the ball and makes teams pay when they leave her unguarded. 
 
Swihart scored 10 points, 7 from the free throw line going 7 for 8, and had 1 rebound.
 
Only starters scored points for the Lady Cats on the evening including Norris with 4 points and 3 rebounds. Norris scored a key shot from the corner to set the Lady Cats in motion to swing momentum their way.
 
“Oh it’s so awesome,” Edmonson County senior Julie Norris said after the game. “I mean this is what we have been working for all season, right? And the past couple seasons and last year was kinda sad cause we thought we were gonna go farther, but this year we did it. This is it.”

​When the last buzzer sounded the score was 55-45 in favor of the Edmonson County Lady Cats with their fifth district title in the last eight seasons.

Since the 1997-98 season, the Lady Cats have won only one Regional Game, said Booth who is a self-proclaimed “stat nerd” with a spread sheet of information.
 
“Every player that played, made some really big plays,” Booth said. 

Booth credits their determination with their strength and conditioning starting back before the season, he said. 
 
“Last year there might have been times where we would freak out, but this year, even turnover-wise and basketball-wise we’re a much better team,” he said.
 
“That is the best reward as a coach,” Booth said on the Edmonson Voice Live Post Game Show while watching his players cut pieces of the net down.
 
Booth does not want to be a team that is just okay, he said. 
 
Okay with winning or losing, it was a good run?
 
No, Booth said. Not at all.
 
“I don’t want to be okay with just a first-round exit,” Booth said on the Post Game Show. 
 
“I feel like this team can give challenges to whoever we draw in a Regional Tournament,” Booth said on the Post Game Show. 
 
They will for sure.
 
The games will be drawn Saturday, March 1st and announced. The Lady Cats expect to play Monday or Tuesday night for Round 1 in the KHSAA Region 3 Tournament.
 
They will be played at the Sportscenter in Owensboro. 

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​No one expected the Edmonson County Wildcats to be only down by 2 points against the Butler County Bears at half time in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association 12th District Tournament round one on Thursday, February 26th at host Trinity High School in Whitesville.

No one except maybe the Wildcats. Their shirts say their faith is greater than other’s doubt.

The Wildcats knew one thing for sure. It was going to be a fight. Not in a dirty way, or like going to a fight where a hockey game breaks out, but a fight to stay playing basketball this season, for both teams.

Both times these teams met earlier in the season Butler County was victorious. The Bears crushed the Wildcats in their first meeting January 17th by a score of 93-64. The second meeting was around two weeks ago, and the Bears did win 88-68, but something happened in the second half of that game.

Edmonson County won the second half of the game, in homer terms. From a number’s perspective, the Wildcats outscored the Bears in that second half but just couldn’t overcome the damage that was done earlier in the game.

This Wildcats squad didn’t have a handful of returning starters this year. They saw kids leave to go play in places like Barren County. They got a new coach, after breaking some emergency glass. Folks seemed to feel like how folks felt about football, until recently, apprehensive.

They did not believe. Maybe the kids didn’t either, at first.

​Since then, and with the end of the season, the Wildcats have proven the power of believing in the team.
 
“Nobody believed in us, you know from the start,” Edmonson County Wildcats head coach Brad Meredith said after the game. “Nobody believed in us. I have had multiple people tell me if we won five games it would be a great year cause we had one kid returning back that had any kind of varsity minutes. With that loss, puts us at 14-11, so a winning record. I’m more proud of that because it shows how much our guys bought in and fought for each other all year.”
 
“That is what I am most proud of, my favorite part,” Meredith said was his favorite thing about the season.
 
It was not the end they wanted, from a reluctant beginning wanted even less, they grew beyond all expectations, including hopefully theirs too.
 
It was all on the line in Whitesville, win and play on, in both the District final and Regionals, or lose and go home.
 
At halftime, the Wildcats were shooting 52 percent from the field, 5 for 6 from the free throw line and matched the Bears in rebounds at 13, according to stats curated by Edmonson Voice Darren Doyle on the Edmonson Live Halftime Show.
 
When the Wildcats came out in the third quarter, they were not as sharp as they were 10 minutes previous and the Bears made them pay. 
 
Unlike the two previous meetings, though, the Wildcats were not done and battled back from a 12 point and 10-point deficit, but ultimately could not overtake the Bears again.

“I love our boys’ fight tonight,” Meredith said on the Edmonson Voice Live Post Game Show. “You know, we had a belief in us that we could play with ‘em.”
 
“I’m very proud of them,” he said. “Very proud.”
 
When the final buzzer sounded the score was 78-68, Bears over the Wildcats.
 
“I’m sad that its over but we fought as hard as we could,” Edmonson County senior power forward Braxtin Lindsey said after the game. “There’s a few things that we could’ve done different, that probably would have won us that game.”
 
“That’s how coach has been preaching for us to play all season,” Lindsey said. “It’s takin’ a while for it to finally click.”
 
There may have been things out of their smooth control this evening. A detriment of 26 trips to the free throw line for the Bears, versus nine trips for the Wildcats.
 
Only three shooting fouls called in the second half on the Bears?
 
Some other unofficial stats saw the Wildcats just edge out the Bears in rebounds 28-27, according to Doyle on the Edmonson Live broadcast.
 
Edmonson County junior shooting forward Owen Ruth lead the Wildcats in scoring with 22 points and 6 rebounds. Junior shooting guard Tyler Wilson had 16 with 7 boards, sophomore point guard Braden Wright had 10 with 4, senior shooting guard Kollin Doyle shot down 10 with 3 boards, senior shooting guard Ben Sanders had 4 with 2, junior shooting guard Blayne Deweese had 4 with 3, and Lindsey had 2 points and a rebound.
 
Whatever the score is, win or lose, some of the young men will move on to new things and some will return to perpetuate what they have learned but the team will always be in their hearts wherever they are.
 
Edmonson County Lady Cats face off against Grayson County in the KHSAA 12th District Women’s Basketball Tournament Final tomorrow(today) at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity High School in Whitesville.

Photos by Joseph Barkoff.

Darren Doyle, story: Joseph Barkoff, photo:

The Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC) has named Lady Cats Head Basketball Coach Jody Booth as the Third Region Girls' Coach of the Year.

Booth is in his second season as head coach for the Lady Cats. Booth has compiled a record that currently sits at 39-16 (.710). The team went 21-8 last season with a current record of 18-8. 

Despite an impressive record, the Lady Cats were defeated in the first round of last year's district tournament. The team has faced tougher opponents this season, something Booth said he wanted in order to better challenge his team, especially in post season play. 

The decision has resulted in dividends for the Lady Cats, who are currently on a 13-game winning streak.

"It is a total group effort," Booth told the Edmonson Voice. "That doesn't happen without total buy-in from my support system at home, our players, coaches, parents, administration, etc.. "It's an honor to be recognized but I'd give that up quick just so these girls can enjoy more success these next few weeks."

The Lady Cats have played for the District 12 Title 6 times in the last 8 seasons. They have claimed the championship 4 out of 8 times, with three of those in a row and the last win coming in 2023 under Head Coach Bart Weaver.

The Lady Cats defeated the Trinity Lady Raiders convincingly on Monday night in this year's first round of the District 12 Tournament, 64-24. They will take on Grayson County Thursday night in Whitesville for the championship title. 

Edmonson County's boys will face Butler County in the first round of their district tournament tonight at 6:20PM