Edmonson Voice Staff
The ECHS Wildcat Football team will travel to Barren County tonight to take on the Trojans at 7pm. A win tonight would make three in a row and Head Coach Kyle Pierce said it will give the Cats a bit of momentum going into the playoffs.

"We are currently 6-3 and this game closes up our regular season. We've won our last two, so winning three in a row going into the playoffs at 7-3 is what we want," Pierce said. "Barren County has solid players. They have about 20 seniors and are playing better. It will be their senior night, so they will definitely be playing at their best. We've had a week off to heal up, but we need to have our rhythm back and be playing at full speed tonight."

You can listen to the live broadcast right here on EdmonsonVoice.com on Wildcats Live with Scott and Bryan. The pregame show begins at 6:40pm.

Happy Halloween! Volleyball, Football, Cross Country, and ECMS Lady Cat Basketball are all on the slate this week and we hear from Coach Kyle Pierce and Coach Nicole Meredith...listen...if you dare!

Two ECHS Lady Cats were honored at last night's Region 3 Volleyball Championship game as they were named to the All-Region Tournament team. 

Senior setter Laney Meredith, (at left) and sophomore hitter Mikayla Lindsey stand with their KHSAA Region 3 All-Tournament awards. 

The Lady Cats advanced to the semifinals of the tournament and finished 25-11 on the season, which ranks as number 5 on the school's all-time list. 

Darren Doyle, story and photos
It's been said that "all good things must come to an end," and that was the case last night for the 2015 Lady Cat Volleyball season as ECHS fell to Daviess County in the Region 3 semi final game. The Lady Panthers simply had too much fire power as their aggressive offense kept the Lady Cats from having any consistency in the 3-0 loss. 

ECHS had no answer for the Daviess County offense throughout the first two sets as they lost each 25-9. They were able to compete more closely in the third set, but a couple of big runs by the Lady Panthers kept the Lady Cats at bay. The team finishes the season with a record of 25-11, the fifth best in school history.

"Daviess County was a great team," said Head Coach Brad Sullivan. "Their height up front was tough to play against." The Lady Panthers had two starters 6' tall or taller, and another listed at 5'11". 

"Being a first year coach, you learn a lot from winning and losing. You give all you can, and that's all you can ask for. The girls on our teams were great, they worked hard all season and I'm proud to have gotten to know them," Sullivan said.

"I am really proud of what our volleyball team has accomplished this season," said ECHS Athletic Director Kyle Pierce. "They won 25 games, defeated our district's most dominant team, Trinity, four times this season, won a Class A regional championship, and advanced to the 3rd region semifinals. Coach Brad Sullivan and his staff did a great job of keeping this team together and improving as the season went along. We had two winning streaks during the year of 8 games, then 9 games. That's impressive for any team."

Senior Captain MaryChris Waddell said her team has had a great season, and that there was nothing to hang their heads about. "I couldn't ask for a better team or family," she said. "These girls are my best friends and even though the season ended, we'll always be family."

Senior Laney Meredith said she was proud to have had the opportunity to advance as far as the team did. "I couldn't have asked for a better senior season with any better players. Thanks to all the parents, fans, and coaches for their support this year, but most of all, I thank God for giving me the ability to play volleyball and all the blessings I've received because of it."

"I'm sad my volleyball career with my team has come to an end, but I wouldn't have wanted to lose with anybody else tonight," said Senior Morgan Miller. "Thanks to my teammates, coaches, parents, and fans, for making this year the most memorable year of volleyball for me. I love you all."

Morgan Skaggs said much of the same. "We had an amazing season and I couldn't have asked for better teammates for my senior year...Playing volleyball at ECHS has been such a blessing."

"With any sport, you have to look at your seniors and see how they perform not only competitively, but also through leadership," Director Pierce added. "We had seven seniors that played well and played to their role on the team. We also saw several underclassmen that stepped in and played well throughout the season."

"We were 25-11 on the season," said Coach Sullivan. "That's a great record."

We at the EdmonsonVoice.com tip our caps to these fine young ladies, their parents, the coaches, and the volleyball boosters for a job well done. We've enjoyed covering their games and we expect more great things from them in the future. Congratulations on a very successful season.

Shawn McCombs, story and photos
​Once again, Middle School Basketball has started all around the Bluegrass, and with the ECMS Lady Cats winning the GRVC Championship the last two years, winning is a tradition.  Coaches Tyra Ballance and Tom Vincent are at the forefront of this tradition with both Ballance and Vincent having successful athletic careers at Edmonson County Schools.

Caverna
They started the season off hosting Caverna at home. Caverna brought their 8th and 6th grade team, instead of the traditional 8th and 7th grade.  ECMS came into this game with heavy hearts after the loss of a very beloved teacher and friend.

The 8th grade played the first game of the night with only one starter from last year’s championship team returning, Lauren Ballance. The Lady Cats came out roaring to play and this game was really never in question, as ECMS jumped out early and often.  7th grader Macie McCombs led the way in scoring off the bench with a team high 12 pts. 8th graders Lauren Ballance and Madison Harrison played strong and consistent, Ballance finished with 8pts and 5 rebounds, going 4-4 from the FT line. Harrison had 6 pts and 6 rebounds. 7th grade starting point guard Katie Lindsey pitched in with 7pts and 5 steals as the Lady Cats cruised to victory 51-27.  The 6th grade team also played a great game, almost shutting out Caverna 33-2, led in scoring by Jaedlyn  Simon with 10 pts.
​
Breckinridge County
The Lady Cats hosted Breckinridge County October 20th and Tom Vincent’s 7th grade team opened up play in what turned out to be a battle from start to finish. EC had too many turnovers and lost a close one to Breck Co, 35-32. Shea Vanmeter and Macie McCombs both finished with 10 points, and Katie Lindsey had 8pts, in a losing effort.

The 8th grade Lady Cats came out looking good, especially with the play of their center Emma Rose Vincent who had a career night with 16 pts., 5 blocks, and 5 rebounds. Mia Goad also had great game finishing with 11 points and 3 assists, and Madison Harrison again had a solid performance with 8pts, and 6 rebounds as the Lady Cats defeated Breck Co, 41-21.

Glasgow
On Oct 22, the Lady Cats made the short trip to Glasgow to play the Scotties. The 7th grade lost 30-21 as they could never really get anything going offensively. Katie Lindsey had 9 pts., and Macie McCombs and Josie Morrison both finished with 5 each.  

The 8th grade Lady Cats didn’t come out as focused as they had been, but fought hard as this game went down to the final horn before they could pull out the win 30-27. Madison Harrison showed her toughness in this battle, as she had 9 pts and 9 rebounds, with 7 of her points coming from the free throw line as she went 7-10 from the stripe. Lauren Ballance also had another solid performance with 9pts, 5-5 from the FT line, and Mia Goad added 6 points.

By Robert Vincent
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Truth
It’s that time of year when Charles Barkley can’t keep his trap closed. Yes, The NBA season starts this week, and, much like I did with the gridiron, I give you my thoughts and predictions on the professional hardwood.
Let’s get started…

The Good…
The feel good champions from last year, The Golden State Warriors, haven’t lost anything of note.  They still have Curry, Klay Thompson and the rest are still there and want to prove that they can repeat against teams that are healthy (unlike last year where it seemed every team they went up against had at least one important player injured).

Along with that, we have a nice little rivalry going. Doc Rivers is already dissing The Warriors and has his Clippers primed to continue to be the team in Los Angeles.

Then you have possible last stands of players that have defined the NBA over the last decade and a half. Kobe Bryant is 37. He’s a 17 time all-star. And he now is a shell of the player with five rings. This could be the year that he ends his career, but not before teaching a new group how to win.

Add to the list that this could be the last year of a dominant Spurs team. Duncan is not young. Yes, he has plenty of young talent to pass along the torch, but this will more-than-likely be his last stand.

The Bad…
This will be LeBron James’ 13th season as a pro. During this time, he has won two championships, four MVPs, and a whole lot more. The scary thing is his back. He has been getting injections and actually sat out of practices for two weeks. This could be an issue as the season progresses, though I am sure if the rest of the team can stay healthy, he can take a break around January for a few weeks.

The Knicks can’t get any worse. How can a team that has a player named after a candy bar as the star and the great and powerful, all knowing, deity-like Phil Jackson as the man behind the curtain be this bad? I mean, The Knicks use to be awesome…but that was the 1990’s and Patrick Ewing was the main man. Last year, they won 17 games and lost 65. They are pretty bad.

The Ugly Truth…
In the Eastern Finals, I see The Cavs outlasting the Bulls in 6. In the West, I see The Spurs pull off a final miracle run over the Clippers in 7.

As for the Finals? It will be King James SIXTH straight appearance in the championship series. During that time, he has lost the most…to the Spurs. I see Spurs over Cavs in 7, and more added fuel to the final chapter to an NBA rivalry of LeBron versus the Spurs that could match Celtics/Lakers during the 80’s.
​
Enjoy the season, and remember to look for your regularly scheduled Voice on Sports later this week.

Darren Doyle
The Lady Cats hope that they can keep the ball rolling, or bouncing in this case, as they take on the Daviess County Lady Panthers in the first game of the Region 3 Tournament Semi Finals tonight at ECHS. Edmonson County is currently ranked 3rd in Region 3 with an overall record of 25-10 and a 14-4 regional record.

Daviess County, currently ranked 2nd in the region has some bouncing momentum themselves, as they've now won their last 15 games in a row. Even though their overall record is better than the Lady Cats at 29-8, they still have an identical regional record of 14-4. 

Tonight's match up with the Lady Cats against the Lady Panthers is anybody's game and will no doubt be exciting to watch. The Lady Cats encourage everyone to come out and cheer on the home team in what could be the final game for seven seniors. 

Let's hope that's not the case and these ladies will continue on for a Regional Title and several more games in 2015. The game is scheduled to begin at 6pm, with top-rated Owensboro Catholic taking on Breckinridge County immediately after.

Darren Doyle, story and photos
The Edmonson County Lady Cats defeated the Ohio County Lady Eagles in a three-set sweep last night during the first round of the Region 3 Volleyball Tournament, hosted at ECHS. The win is a bounce-back from being upset in the 12th District Finals last week. 

The Lady Cats were able to control the pace of the game throughout the sets and kept Ohio County from making any real threat. ECHS only trailed for a few plays during the entire three set match and went on a dominating 10-0 run that sealed the win during the second set. They won the first set 25-23, the second 25-20, and the final set 25-17

"We played for one another tonight," said Senior Captain MaryChris Waddell. "We weren't ready for this to be our last game. We came together as a team again, and we can keep doing it."

Sophomore Mikayla Lindsey said the energy level was much higher than it had been. "I'm so proud of my team and how we could come from a loss and just have fun again," she said. "I'm pumped to play in round two on Wednesday."

"Coming back with this win after (the loss) at Trinity gave us a great boost in our spirits," said Junior Dina Hollis.

Senior Morgan Skaggs said the team wasn't as sharp as it should've been during the first set, but the last two sets represented what the Lady Cats can do. "It's a great feeling to be moving on to the next round," she said.

The first games of round one in the Region 3 Volleyball Tournament will be tonight at 6pm at Edmonson County High School. Game one will feature Daviess County against Meade County and the second game will feature the Lady Cats of ECHS against Ohio County immediately following.

The Lady Cats are currently 24-10 on the year. We'll be covering the games and encourage you to come out to support the Lady Cats tonight.

This week, we serve up Volleyball, Cross-Country, and Football news while preparing room for Band Seniors Emily Davidson and Sarah Johnson to be in the Senior Spotlight...you're gonna want to hear this!

Darren Doyle, story and photos
The Lady Cats were defeated in a heartbreaking loss by the Trinity Lady Raiders in four sets in a best-out-of-five match during last night's District 12 championship game, held at Whitesville Trinity. ECHS came out looking sharp, but with 12 ties and 7 lead changes, fans in attendance knew they were in for a hard-fought and scrappy battle to the finish.

The first set was nothing but a series of back-and-forth digging and diving, while the score stayed either tied or one point apart until EC took a timeout as Trinity took a 14-12 lead. The Lady Cats clawed their way back with a two point lead at 16-14 and kept it , finishing on a 6-3 run to end the first set with the win 25-21.

The second and third sets saw a huge momentum shift as Trinity took control of the pace and of the game. The Lady Cats seemed out of sorts, lacked communication, and made several mental mistakes as they never had a lead in neither set 2 nor 3. Trinity won both sets with the same score of 25-18 for each set.

The fourth set looked much more like the first, but with EC scoring the first point and taking their first lead since they won the first set, which at the time, seemed like days ago.

It remained a fight-to-the-death pace until Trinity called timeout as the Lady Cats took a 20-18 lead.  Trinity tied the score at 20-20 but The Lady Cats answered by scoring the next two with a 22-20 lead.  Trinity bounced back with two more, tying the game 22 all as Coach Brad Sullivan called a timeout.

Trinity was simply the better team in this match as they were able to push through and outscore the Lady Cats 4-2 to end the set at 26-24, the game 3-1, and the 12th District Championship.

The Lady Cats were obviously down, but soon began to start thinking positive again.

Darren Doyle, story and photo
If you've never been part of high school volleyball team, whether it be as a player, coach, parent, official, or avid fan, your knowledge of the highly competitive sport is at best, minimal. And that minimal knowledge probably comes from beach volleyball, or back yard get-togethers. Some of you may even remember games and tourneys from the iconic Little Dipper Restaurant in Chalybeate, which if you born in 1990 or after, you have no idea what I'm talking about.

I'll skip all the complicated rules and regulations, but just know this: it's a big deal, and it's a heckuva lot harder than it looks. I can say it's truly been a pleasure covering Lady Cat Volleyball this year, not just because of the fine group of young ladies that make up the team, but also the parents, the coaching staff, the relentless work of the booster club, the athletic director, and school administration.

This team currently sits with a record of 24-9, which ranks 5th right now in school history, going back 15 years. Why is that such a big deal? Because it's usually difficult for Edmonson County Athletics to regularly do well and stay competitive. That's not a put-down, either. As a former ECHS athlete that played sports from 90-94, we had some talented athletes on various teams, some very good coaches, (also some not so good), but the problem was that most other schools we played were much larger, had more income, and simply had better opportunities to be good teams, which has remained true up until now, where teams have been re-districted, and re-regioned in order to allow more smaller schools like EC to compete with other comparable schools.

Now don't get me wrong, ECHS has had very good teams in the past with most all sports, it's just difficult for every single EC sport to remain competitive year after year, even in smaller districts and regions. 

A win tonight for the Lady Cats will bring ECHS their 5th district title in 15 years. How good is that? Well, boys basketball hasn't done it since 1993, (ahem, a team I was on...) and Lady Cat basketball hasn't done it since 1998. 

The Lady Cats will definitely have their hands full tonight because they play long-time foe Whitesville Trinity at their dreaded "barn" tonight for the title. Why is that hard? Well, it's always harder playing your opponent on their home turf, but now, you have to add the atmosphere, which is literally a metal barn that doesn't have air conditioning, and a very hostile environment led by the school's student section.

The other factor? The Lady Cats have owned Trinity this year, something that they've never done. They've defeated them 4 out of 4 times this year, but 5 in a row is a very difficult task for any team and sport, especially on the road.

Some would say that the team's accomplishments even shine a bit brighter having a new head coach, one with no head coaching experience coming into this season.

"Our game plan is to simply play our game," said Sullivan. "We're used to playing in these environments. To win the district as a first year coach would be nice, but really, it's all about these girls and what they get out of playing the game."

The Lady Cats have proven to be a resilient team in 2015 and have the title in their sights.

"I do expect us to come out on top with a huge win," said Senior Morgan Miller. "It's the same match up as last year's championship game, however this year, the winner's going to be different. We've worked our butts off this entire season, all for tonight."

Senior Morgan Skaggs said it was a blessing to simply be in the title game. "I couldn't be more excited to have a chance to be district champs with my other seniors and go out in the best ways possible."

"Our volleyball team has had a tremendous season so far and seems to be playing well at the right time of year," said Athletic Director Kyle Pierce. "We've won a Class A Region and we've won 24 games this year. We've already punched a ticket in next week's regional tournament that we're hosting, so that's out of the way. Now this group of girls wants to win a district championship, and it's within reach."

Drawings for the 3rd Region tournament held at ECHS next week will take place tomorrow. We'll keep you posted on games and times.

The District 12 championship final is tonight at Trinity High School. Scheduled start time is 6pm.

By Robert Vincent
The Curse of Murphy…
OK. So maybe the Back to the Future prediction for the World Series was incorrect. As of right now, as I sit and write this column for you, faithful sports reader, The Mets are up 3-0 and the game is about to start. Odds are the Cubs ain’t making it to the World Series.

And Why?

Murphy. Murphy. Murphy.

What does Murphy have to do with anything? Well, let me tell you.

It all started in 1908. The Cubs had just won the World Series. They had a big party. Everyone was invited. Everyone but their owner, who was HATED by the entire team. So, when he found out, he got pretty mad and cursed the players (honestly, it happened.) His name? Charles Murphy.

Fast Forward to 1945. The Cubs were in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Billy Sianis was a life time Cubs fan and owner of a bar in Chicago. He was asked to leave the World Series because they would not let him bring his goat into Wrigley (we all know this story). His words: “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more!” That goat…his name…was Murphy.

It gets better: In 1969, when the Cubs and Mets met again for a trip to the World Series (which the Mets won), the announcer for the Mets was Bob MURPHY and the GM for the Mets, Johnny MURPHY. When the Cubs lost the NLCS in 1984, they did so in Jack MURPHY Stadium.

And the kicker? This year, the Mets’ hero? Daniel MURPHY.

Coincidence? I think not. I think there is an adage that states: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. That adage is called “Murphy’s Law”.

Eighteen
For the first 30 odd years of their existence, The Pittsburgh Steelers were terrible. Then, in the 1970’s, something happened. They hired Chuck Noll. He drafted names like “Mean” Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Hamm, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Jack Lambart, and on and on. During that decade, they won four championships.
Given, the 1980’s weren’t good for the Steelers. However, in the 1990’s, they hired Bill Cowler as head coach. In his first six seasons, Cowler took the team to three AFC Championship games and one Superbowl, losing to the Cowboys.

After ten years of winning, but not making it to the big game, Cowler took his team to Superbowl XL and beat Seattle for their fifth ring with Big Ben, Bettis and other big names. In three short years, yet another head coach Mike Tomlin took the Steelers to Superbowl XLIII and beat the Cardinals. This gave them their sixth Superbowl, which is the most of any team. They went three years later, and lost to the Packers. This was their eighth appearance, tied for most with the Cowboys and Patriots. They have hosted 11 Conference Championship games, which is more than any other team and played in 15 of those games, which is tied for first with the San Francisco 49ers. This makes them the 18th greatest sports franchise.

Bits and Pieces
In NFL action, look for The Giants, Colts and Falcons to get wins. The game to watch is Jets at Patriots and don’t be surprised if there is an upset.
​
So, faithful sports reader, enjoy the weekend. Next week look for College Basketball Previews and #17. Until then, “Look like a woman, play like a man.”-Jan Stephenson, on golf.

Edmonson Voice Staff
Granville Meredith, photos
The Lady Cats traveled to Whitesville Trinity last night to play the first game of the District 12 Tournament against the struggling Butler County Lady Bears. ECHS, who earned the top seed in the tourney had no trouble at all with Butler beginning with a very lopsided 25-2 win in the first set.

Senior setter Laney Meredith served 19 straight on
a 20-0 run against the Lady Bears and the only other Lady Cat to serve during the set was sophomore Sierra Kenney.

The Lady Cats finished the game 3-0 with the second set score of 25-12 and the final set 25-8.

The Grayson County Lady Cougars were upset last night in their game of the tournament by host Whitesville Trinity. The Lady Cougars, which are obvious rivals of ECHS, sat near the top of the Region 3 rankings for most of the year. In one of the first games of the season, they handed the Lady Cats their first loss on the year, at home. ECHS got revenge however, by defeating the Lady Cougars on the road at Grayson County. With Grayson County now out of the way, the Lady Cats are favored to bring home the championship trophy.

Senior Morgan Skaggs didn't put any focus on the opponent, but her team instead. "It's truly a blessing to be able to fight for the district title with best teammates tomorrow night," she said. "It's going to be a battle no doubt, but I believe this team can accomplish anything."

It won't be as easy as the Butler County game. Trinity has been a thorn in the side of the Lady Cats for many seasons, with this season being the first time in years that ECHS has been able to beat them. Now, with the Lady Raiders hosting the tournament in their home "barn," the Lady Cats will face a very hostile environment, some might even say abusive, ironically, at a Christian school. ​

"We need to pack the stands and have as many students and fans as possible to cheer on the Lady Cats," said Senior Laney Meredith. "I'm definitely proud of the support that Edmonson County has shown us this year."

"Trinity's fans have always tried to get in our heads and mess us up every time we play them," said Senior Madison Kemble. "But if we stay strong, focus, and block them out, they won't be an issue."

Senior Team Captain MaryChris Waddell said she knows it will be a noisy event, thanks to Trinity's student section, known as the "Blue Zoo." "We need to be able to block them out... just go and play our hearts out. We'll leave it all on the floor Thursday night."

The Lady Cats improve to 24-9 on the year, 13-3 in the Region, and 8-1 in District play. They are currently ranked #3 in the Region.
​
The District 12 Championship game is scheduled to start at 6pm on Thursday at Whitesville Trinity.

Edmonson Voice Sports
The ECHS Wildcat football team secured the #3 seed in the upcoming Class AAA state playoffs as they traveled to Hodgenville this past Friday night and brought home a tough 28-21 victory over the Hawks. The win now gives the Wildcats a 6-3 record overall, with a 2-2 record in Region 1, District 2.
 
The Wildcats got on the board first as the offense took the opening drive twelve plays and scoring on junior running back Daniel Caudill’s 1-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Brett Brannon added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The Hawks responded taking their kickoff return back to the Wildcat 40-yard line and scoring on a long run the very first play of offense. The extra point tied the score at 7-7.

The Wildcat special teams responded as sophomore quarterback Tucker Cole returned the next kickoff 68 yards to set up the Wildcat offense at the Larue County 27-yard line. Six plays later, Cole found sophomore running back Brayden Carey out of the backfield for a 15 yard touchdown pass. Brannon’s extra point gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.

The Wildcat defense made a huge play on the next series as senior defensive end Tyler Hayes jumped on a Hawks fumble, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Hawks’ 31-yard line. This time, the Wildcat offense used seven plays and finished with a 13 yard counter run by sophomore running back Zack Farmer. Brannon’s extra point gave the Wildcats a 21-7 lead toward the end of the first quarter.

The Hawks answered on their next offensive series with a 9 play drive that finished with a 1-yard touchdown pass. The extra point tightened the game to 21-14 early in the second quarter. After eleven plays, the Wildcats were forced to punt on their next offensive series. The Wildcat defense again came up with a big play when junior linebacker Dylan Waldrop intercepted a Larue County pass at the Wildcats’ 25-yard line. Larue County’s defense answered a few plays later when they intercepted a Wildcat pass. The Wildcat defense was able to hold right before halftime to keep the score at 21-14.
 
The Wildcat defense forced a quick punt to start the second half. The Wildcat offense used a 10-play drive to move the ball to the 18-yard line. On 4th and long, the Wildcats attempted a 35-yard field goal that just missed wide left.  The Wildcat defense stopped the Hawks and forced a punt that pinned the Wildcats deep in their own territory. The Wildcats attempted a fake punt but the Hawks were all over it, giving them good field position. After a run took them inside the 5 yard line, they scored a short pass in the right flat. The extra point tied the score at 21 with about 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats then drove the ball down the field using a 10-play drive. On 2nd and goal at the 4-yard line, Cole saw an opening and took it all four yards for a quarterback sneak and a Wildcat go-ahead touchdown. Brannon’s extra point gave the Wildcats a 28-21 lead with about 6 minutes to go in the game. The Hawks moved the ball into Wildcat territory to the 35-yard line. However, the Wildcat defense came up with the play it needed as Hayes hit the quarterback as he attempted a deep pass down the middle of the field. Senior free safety Jarod Hines jumped in front of a Larue County receiver and intercepted the ball giving possession back to the Wildcat offense with a little over four minutes left in the contest.

​The Wildcat offense then turned to its offensive line and running backs to run out the clock. After one first down, the Wildcats had a 4th and 2 at their own 45-yard line with about 1:30 left in the game. After a timeout, the Wildcats decided to go for a first down. A four yard run by Caudill gave the Wildcats a first down and the offense was able to run out the clock to secure a 28-21 win.
 
ECHS head football coach Kyle Pierce believes this win was the ultimate team win. “What a great job by our players, our coaches, our fans, and everybody associated with our football program," he said. "It was a tough win, but we pulled it out. Offensively, we had four different guys score touchdowns, but we had others make some big plays. Our offensive line played physical football upfront. Defensively, we forced three takeaways from their offense with a fumble recovery and two interceptions. Our special teams, especially our extra point team who was 5 for 5 for the night, gave us a big boost. We had a couple nice kick returns that gave us good field position. Larue County has some very nice athletes that can run. I was glad to see us stop them when we had to have a stop. The one thing that was so noticeable in this game to me was our body language. When things went well, we were celebrating with each other. When things went bad, we were picking each other up. When the game was won, we were all happy for each other’s success. We wanted to secure our playoff spot, our 6th win guarantees a winning season, and we wanted to win this game as a team. So we accomplished we set out to accomplish against Larue County. I am happy for all of our guys.”
 
The Wildcats will now rest up a week as they are open this week with no game to play. The Wildcats will return to action on Friday, October 30th at AAAAA Barren County to end the regular season. Pierce says his team needed the break. “Although it would be good to keep the momentum of a couple wins, we need some rest. We’ve been going at it since mid-July. That’s 3 months of contact and it can take a toll on you, not only physically, but mentally as well. We’ll use this week to heal up anything that is sore and hopefully be fresh for Barren County and the playoffs come November.”

by Robert Vincent
The Old Ball Coach Rides Away
There are a few personalities in sports that are so polarizing that you mainly dislike them because they beat your team all the time or they have a swagger of pompousness that makes you want to throw things at them, but you still would love to have them on your team because you know, at the end of the day, they would help you win.

Steve Spurrier was one of those personalities.

This week, after posting a 2-4 record in the first half of his 11th season at South Carolina, Spurrier did something no one has ever done. He left the head coaching job at South Carolina on his own terms.
Spurrier started coaching at Duke University, where he made them winners, posting a 20-13-1 record in three seasons before heading to his alma mater of Florida in 1990. At Florida, he coached 12 seasons, won 122 games, six SEC titles and a national championship in 1996. After a few years treading water in the NFL, he was hired at South Carolina, and he turned a program around, winning 86 games. He had one losing record before this half season, and that was his first with Duke.

Spurrier will be missed on the sidelines, even by those who say they won’t miss him.
And speaking of greatness…

Number 19
Last week was the San Francisco Giants at 20, this week…

THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs have a pretty good history, but the “storied” part of the #19 sports dynasty doesn’t really start until 25 years ago.  Since the 1989-1990 NBA season, the Spurs have missed the playoffs once. ONCE. That was the year of The Admiral. When David Robinson came to San Antonio, the team started to win.
The only losing season came in 1996-1997, but the year after really started the dynasty. In 1997, the Spurs picked Tim Duncan in the draft, and two years later, in 1999, won the first of their five titles.  The first against the Knicks, the second (02-03) against the Nets, the third (04-05) against the Pistons, the fourth (06-07) against the Cavs and the fifth (13-14) against the Heat.

They went 15 seasons winning at least 50 games a year…out of 82.

Alongside of Robinson and Duncan, there are names like Parker, Ginobili, Horry, Bowen and more. They had the antithesis of an NBA coach in Popvich. They won not by pulling players away from other teams with big money, but by building a team and letting it grow.

They are champions over the long haul, and that is why they are the 19th Greatest Sports Dynasty (in my eyes).

Bits and Pieces
What did I say about the Cubs?

In the NFL, things are forming up to being interesting. Look for Denver, Green Bay, The Giants and The 49ers to be winners this weekend, but the game of the week will be Pats vs. Colts.

Next week, get ready for college basketball and the 18th on the list.
​
Until then…
“It’s a game in which you can feel a clean hatred for your opponent”- Ronald Reagan on football.

We're back from break, and we're bringing the latest from football, volleyball, golf, and more with us. Also, Laney Meredith is in the Senior Spotlight this week. We were so anxious to get back that we posted the show a day early, so wait no more...click play now!

Darren Doyle, story an photos
The Lady Cats had no trouble at all last night taking care of the Hart County Lady Raiders in their final regular season home game for 2015 as they won 2-0 and improved to 22-9 on the year, but the bigger story was the reason that these girls played.

The game was the annual "Dig Pink" Cancer Benefit Event that raises money for local cancer patients. Each player was able to list cancer fighters, patients, and survivors that they were playing in honor and/or in memory of, the names of which were announced during the pregame ceremony. Those in attendance were recognized.

There was also an "Honorary Coach" for the evening, which was Hallie Stice, a 4-year old cancer survivor. She spent the last year taking treatments for a type of cancer named Rhabdomyosarcoma, also referred to as RMS. Her family said she is currently completely cancer-free and is enjoying a normal life. Her sister, Kennady Stice, age 9, was an "Honorary Co-Captain" for last night's game as well. They live in Chalybeate with their parents, Jeremy and Shauna Stice.

There was also a silent auction which raised over $1,000. Final totals have not been reported yet, but the Volleyball Boosters were pleased with the event. The money raised will be used at a local level.

The event was sponsored by DB&K Construction, Bank of Edmonson County, Farm Bureau, PBI Bank, and Alford's Pharmacy.

The Lady Cats will play their final regular game of the season at Allen County on Thursday, then District Tournament play will begin on Monday, October 19th.

Darren Doyle, story and photos
They've said it all year. Things like,  "We're not finished." "There's more we want to accomplish," and "We still have work to do." As Lady Cat Volleyball enjoys a very successful season, there's no sign of stopping, evident of a two-set beat down over Caverna last night on Senior Night.

With Caverna certainly struggling with a record of 0-16, some might think the Lady Cats may have backed off as the night was very emotional for seven senior team members celebrating Senior Night festivities. That wasn't the case as the Lady Cats stepped on the gas pedal early on and took care of business in the first set winning 25-9. The second set was even more lopsided as ECHS scored the last 15 points of the set with a final score of 25-3 and improve their record to 21-9 on the season.

The Lady Cats will play their final regular season home game tonight against the Lady Raiders of Hart County in their annual "Dig Pink" night. In addition to a freshman, JV, and Varsity game, it is also a cancer awareness fundraiser and silent auction with all of the proceeds benefiting local cancer patients.

Right: Elizabeth Woodcock with the hit.

The team will begin the district tournament next Monday, October 12th at Whitesville Trinity. The Lady Cats finished the district with a record of 7-1 and will be the top seed in the tournament. 

The Lady Cats also recently found out that they will be hosting the Region 3 Tournament at ECHS that is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 26th. 

Edmonson Voice Staff
Smiles, laughs, hugs, and even tears were plentiful at Edmonson County High last night as seven senior Lady Cat Volleyball players were recognized with their families during Senior Night. Flowers and medals were given to the parents and guardians as memories and farewell thoughts were read to the crowd from each player. 

The Lady Cats went on to defeat Caverna in two sets. The Edmonson Voice wishes to give a tip of the cap to these fine young ladies and we wish them all the best as they move forward in life. It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to cover their team this season on EdmonsonVoice.com.

Edmonson Voice Staff
Photos by ECHS Golf
​Most successful high school athletes set goals before each season starts, and the ones that work the hardest usually reach one or more of those goals. ECHS Lady Cat Senior Golfer Kayla Meredith set some high goals before this season began as her senior year approached, and because of her hard work, she was able to reach many of those goals as her high school golf career came to a close this past weekend.

Kayla has been a member of the high school golf team for the past six years and her coaches have said she has improved each year. She wanted to win some KJPGA tournaments, qualify again for All A State, and win a high school tournament.  She did all these.  One of her biggest goals was to qualify to play in the KHSAA State Golf Tournament, and on September 29 at Barren River State Park, she became a qualifier and participated in the KHSAA Tournament on October 9th. 

As her day began at the course, she was visited by former ECHS longtime golf coach, Dr. Dale Gray as he gave her a last minute pep talk before she teed off on hole number one.  Kayla bogeyed the first hole but ended up with a birdie on hole two to even things up. 

Light rain started to fall as Kayla picked up two pars and two bogeys to put her at +2 after six holes.  The rain increased as she added two more pars and double bogeyed hole nine to leave her at +4 on the front nine.

As she started the back nine, rain fell even harder but she managed only one double bogey, while scoring two bogeys, and six pars to finish a great round of 80, despite the adverse weather.  After about a 2 ½ hour wait, she was informed that she made the cut, which allowed her to continue her play the next day. 

Seven seniors wore their home uniforms one more time as they shared an emotional night with their parents and guardians at Wildcat Stadium on Friday night against Hart County. 

Coach Kyle Pierce said he was proud of his seniors. "We have seven, solid individuals," he said. "They're all different personalities...quiet guys, outspoken guys, some funny, some stoic, I mean they're just a great group of kids. But they're all the same in terms that they work hard."

The Edmonson Voice salutes these young men and their families for their contributions to Wildcat Football. Good luck and best wishes to you in the future.

Darren Doyle, story, photos, and video
It was a bittersweet night for seven ECHS Senior Football players as they wore their blue uniforms one last time at a rainy Wildcat Stadium as they defeated the Hart County Raiders 14-0. 

The Wildcats were led by junior running back Daniel Caudill's two touchdowns and 174 total yards. The first quarter looked promising for the Wildcats, but two fumbles cancelled out some big runs for EC. The Cats were able to get more offense going as the second quarter began and Caudill was able to score his first touchdown of the game on a one-yard run. Sophomore Brett Brannon kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

With the half winding down, a nice run by sophomore Zack Farmer put the Cats in great field position and junior Rheece Berkely followed up that play with a fantastic catch on the four yard line with just seconds to go.

 Caudill then scored another touchdown with an acrobatic flip over two Hart County defenders into the endzone with 7.5 seconds left in the half. Brannon's extra point attempt was good and the Wildcats led 14-0 at halftime.

Hart County was able to get on a couple of good runs near the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth, but the Wildcat defense was able to keep their composure and snuffed out those opportunities. The rain caused slippery conditions and was a bit of a factor for both teams as the score would remain the same with the Cats on top, 14-0.

Head Coach Kyle Pierce said a win is a win, but saw several missed opportunities. First and foremost, he gave praise to his seniors. "We have seven, solid individuals," he said. "They're all different personalities...quiet guys, outspoken guys, some funny, some stoic, I mean they're just a great group of kids. But they're all the same in terms that they work hard."

He said he knew they could see their moments "winding down" and he was glad they were able to come together and enjoy one more win, their last, at Wildcat Stadium.

When asked about those missed opportunities and turnovers, Pierce was obviously glad for the win, but quickly pointed out that there are things to work on. "It's frustrating, you know? You make great runs, you have good drives, you're in the red zone, your primed and ready to score, but then you make a miscue."

At the end of the night, it was still a win for the Wildcats as they improved to 5-3 overall, but Pierce said you always have to seek out the things that need improvement.

"We're going to work our drills," he said. "You know, we worked on tackling this past week and I thought our tackling was better tonight. This week, we're going to work on ball security and other drills. Hopefully our kids will take it seriously and do a good job with it."

Edmonson County will now look at applying these drills against this week's opponent, Larue County. "I think we match up against them pretty well," Pierce said. "After facing Etown, ranked 3rd in the state, and then Adair, ranked 7th, and we played them back-to-back, it's good to play a team that better matches up with us, but Larue's still a good football team." 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm central time, 8pm eastern. You can listen to the broadcast live on your new home for the Wildcats on WildcatsLive with Scott and Bryan. They'll be live at 6:40pm central time.