Darren Doyle
Although basketball fans are excited to have the Lady Cats tipping off against Logan tonight at ECHS, it will be a bittersweet game as Head Coach Kevin Jackson will serve the first game of a three-game suspension tonight as he turns the reigns over to his coaching staff. 

The KHSAA made the ruling as a result of the Adair County scrimmage game last week. Things reportedly got heated during the very physical game where one Lady Cat took home a black eye.

Apparently, a Lady Cat was called for what many fans described as a very questionable foul and Jackson asked the official to clarify as to why the foul was called. There were some words exchanged, but certainly nothing out of the ordinary, nor anything that should even be considered questionable. With no warning, a quick technical foul was issued against Jackson.

Jackson walked away, but it was reported that it was the official, not Jackson, that continued creating an issue. She told Jackson to sit down, but he refused. "This is a scrimmage game, and I'm coaching my girls," he said. It was then that the second technical foul was issued and Jackson was ejected from the game with 7.7 seconds to go in the third quarter.

With one player already injured, it was then that Coach Jackson said he felt like it was in the best interest of his players to stop the scrimmage and go home.

​Jackson, taking the high road and hoping to avoid drama, downplayed the issue and said it was made out to be a bigger deal than it actually was. "No big deal," he said. "Looking at the big picture of the regular season is our main goal." The comments from Jackson were in no way an attempt to avoid talking about it, but rather to focus on the positives. 

The incident raises a huge question as to why he received two technical fouls and an ejection, and in a scrimmage game at that. The ejection comes as the very first one for Jackson, a man who has coached for 30 years. 

"I'm very disappointed that this incident occurred," Jackson said in a statement. "I'm sorry that in taking up for my girls, it cost me a chance to coach them this week."

A message sent to ECHS requesting a comment on the suspension was not immediately returned.

Even though the assistant coaches will be in charge this week, Jackson still talked about the keys to defeating Logan County tonight.

"Logan County went 21-10 last year so we know they have a good team," he said. "They have a 6'2 post player that I understand is very good.  We'll have to play with some of that energy and passion in order to compete. I Look forward to seeing this team continue to improve as the season goes along.  Our goal is to be playing our best ball in February."

According to KHSAA, an automatic suspension is the penalty for being ejected in a high school contest. Most officials are very professional and they do a great job, realizing that fans don't know their names, nor do they care. Others officiate in an attempt to live vicariously through the athletes of today, lives they never lived when they were younger. With more and more officials looking for pats on the back or recognition these days, fans will probably see more technical fouls and ejections, and unfortunately, sometimes it hurts the good coaches of the world, coaches like Kevin Jackson.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm for the JV, with the Varsity game beginning immediately afterwards. You can listen live on EdmonsonVoice.com with the guys from WildcatsLive as they'll bring you all the varsity action tonight.

Edmonson Voice Sports
There's been a new level of excitement for Lady Cat Basketball ever since Coach Kevin Jackson announced his return to Edmonson County when he was hired as head coach in July of this year. 

Jackson coached a successful program here from 1992-2003, where he led the team to three district championships. Jackson replaces Ted Hill who stepped down after last season with a 2014-15 record of 12-16.

Jackson has said practices so far have revolved around defense and rebounding, and the team recently held a scrimmage against a very solid South Warren team. 

"We like to scrimmage good teams because they'll point out your weaknesses and show you what you need to work on," he said. 

Edmonson Voice Staff
​photos by Darren Doyle
​Kyle Pierce has stepped down as head football coach at Edmonson County High School. Pierce, 35, took the job in 2004 at the age of 24 and just finished his 12th season as head football coach for the Wildcats, where he also played four years from 1995-1999.
 
During those twelve years, the Wildcats were 68-66, made the playoffs nine years, had an undefeated regular season with a district championship in 2011, and made it to the regional championship game in 2008.
 
Pierce was an assistant coach at Warren Central High School for five years under Rick Wood, before taking the job at Edmonson County. Pierce says that he always knew he was going to be a coach since his days in Little League football, but Wood helped to get it started earlier than he had planned. “I started during the spring of my senior year of high school. Coach Wood had resigned at Edmonson County and had taken the job at Warren Central in the spring of 1999. I was thinking about trying to find some small school to keep playing football just so I could stay close to the game. Coach Wood asked me if I would like the chance to coach, and I immediately accepted. I learned a lot being an assistant those five years. Most of our staff were either previous head coaches or have went on to be head coaches or coordinators since then. I learned from all of those guys, but Coach Wood really molded me into the coach I became.”

Edmonson Voice Staff
photos courtesy of EC Wildcat Archery Team
Over 200 competitors from 10 different schools competed in the second annual Edmonson County Archery Turkey Classic, hosted by the EC Archery Team at ECMS this past Saturday.

Overall, the Wildcats placed 2nd as a team, getting edged out by winner Taylor County, and ECHS freshman Jarrod Sanders placed 2nd overall in individual scoring. 

Head Coach Chris Shelton extended his thanks to all the help that went into the tournament. "It took a lot of hard work from our parents to set up and make the competition run smoothly," he said.

The Wildcats are now preparing for shoots at Warren East and Taylor County, which will be the final matches before Christmas break.

Roundball season is upon us, and we have updates from the ECMS teams as well as an interview with ECHS Lady Cat Coach Kevin Jackson...all this is yours by simply clicking the play button!

Edmonson Voice Staff
On Saturday, November 7th,  the ECMS Lady Cats traveled to Owensboro to play in the 2015 Owensboro Lady Devil UMWA Middle School Basketball Tournament. Both 8th grade and 7th grade teams went 2-1 for the day.

Macie McCombs had a big game against Owensboro, scoring 13 points and was recognized as player of the game as the Lady Cats went on to win, 40-13. The 7th grade team finished in 2nd place behind Owensboro Catholic, receiving a trophy for their accomplishment.

The 8th grade team lost their first game against Webster County, 31-23. The Lady Cats bounced back with a 41-15 win against South Spencer Middle School, rounding out the day with a big win against College View Heights, 37-4. Madison Harrison had a total of 32 points for the tournament and was named player of the game in the 2nd game against South Spencer Middle School. Emma Rose Vincent, scoring 8 points, received player of the game in the 3rd game against College View Heights.

On Thursday, November 12th, ECMS Lady Cats traveled to Grayson County. The 7th graders took it to the Lady Cougars, running away with a 33-14 win. Macie McCombs finished the game with a career high of 16 points.

The 8th graders had their hands full with a 10-0 Cougar team, and battled a close game down to the last minute. Grayson County defeated the Lady Cats, 37-31. Lauren Ballance finished the game with 9 points and 7 rebounds. Emma Rose Vincent finished with 8 points, 3 Rebounds, and 5 blocks.
 
The 8th grade is now 9-4, with the 7th grade team at 7-6 on the season.

This week, we preview ECHS Wildcat Basketball with Coach Mike McClintic and hear all the latest scores from ECMS Wildcat and Lady Cat Basketball...give it a listen!

By Robert Vincent
As I look around at sports fans, I see Brady jerseys and Yankee hats and LeBron’s latest shoes being sported by young and old alike. Kids look up to these athletes and teams as heroes. There is nothing wrong with this. Let me, however, give you some examples of true heroes.

Ever hear of Bob Kalsu? He was an All-American tackle at Oklahoma. After graduating, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and played every game of his rookie season in 1968 at offensive guard. He was also a member of his colleges ROTC program and, like his duty suggested, he went to Vietnam in November of 1969. On July 21, 1970, Kalsu was killed when his unit came under enemy fire. His wife was informed of his death just hours after she gave birth to their second child. Kalsu could have stayed and played ten or twelve years in the NFL, but instead, he gave his life for his nation.

Jack Lummus played nine games for the New York Giants as an end. He enlisted in the Marines on January 30, 1942. He was in the first wave of troops that landed on Iwo Jima on Feb 19, 1945 and he stayed on the island to fight for his country. On March 8 of that year, he helped defeat three strongholds, only to be mortally wounded from a grenade. His last words: “Well, doc, the New York Giants lost a mighty good end today.”

Eight months after September 11, 2001, Pat Tillman left a sure-fire Hall of Fame career in the NFL to become an Army Ranger. He served a tour in Iraq and then went to Afghanistan. On April 22, 2004, he was killed by friendly fire.

Others have served who could have stayed home and played a game. Ted Williams. Art Donovan. Joe Dimaggio. Jackie Robinson. This list goes on. These are heroes. Heroes above and beyond. This week, find a hero like these and simply say, “Thanks.”

Number 16
Ironically, on Veteran’s Day week, the 16th greatest sports dynasty is The New England Patriots. The first real success had by the Pats came a good decade and a half before Tom Brady. The Patriots defied all odds and made it to Superbowl XX to face the Chicago Bears, only to lose 46-10. It took 11 years before they would get back to the big game with Bill Parcels as coach and Drew Bledsoe as quarterback. They lost this time to the Green Bay Packers.

True dynasty status, however, started in 2001. In the second game of the season, Drew Bledsoe got knocked out of the game with a bad hit and in comes the 199th pick of the 2000 draft from Michigan, Tom Brady. That year, The Pats went on to win Superbowl XXXVI by beating the Rams on a last second field goal.
They would return to the Superbowl two years later and win against the Panthers, and then do it again against the Eagles the following year.

Since 2001, they have been to 6 Superbowls, winning 4. They went undefeated in the regular season in 2007, only to lose a Superbowl to the Giants. They had big names like Brady, Owens, Welker, Bruschi, McGinest, Vrabel. They had the hooded genius for a coach in Belichick. The dynasty is still technically going, and looks as strong as ever as they enter week 10 this season at 8-0. This is why they are #16.

Bits and Pieces
Speaking of 8-0, I think the Pats MIGHT get beat by the Giants this week and who would think the other two undefeated teams would be The Panthers and The Bengals.
​
And my quote of the week? “I don’t know anything that builds the will to win better than competitive sports” Richard Nixon.

Darren Doyle
The scoreboard said 42-3 at the end of the game on Friday night as the Wildcats were defeated in the first round of the AAA Playoffs against top-rated Paducah Tilghman High, but there was much more to the season than that particular score.

The Wildcats knew they were facing a tough battle against PTHS, but as in all sports, anything can happen, unfortunately for the Cats, it didn't.

Tilghman got on the board first with a touchdown and extra point with just over three minutes left in the first quarter to lead 7-0. They were able to do the same again just as the second quarter started to grab a 14-0 lead.

Only minutes later, the Wildcats found themselves in terrible field position but things got worse when Tilghman intercepted a pass and took the 2 yard touchdown and extra point for a 21-0 lead. Tilghman was able to score again on a 3 yard rushing touchdown and an extra point to put the Cats in a deeper hole of 28-0 with about six minutes to go in the half.

ECHS got on the board with a 30 yard field goal by Brett Brannon just before halftime as the Cats were down 28-3 at the break. 

The Wildcats simply couldn't get anything going as Paducah Tilghman continued to roll on to a 42-3 victory ending the 2015 Football season for ECHS. 

Head Coach Kyle Pierce only had good things to say. "Paducah Tilghman has a tremendous team and are highly ranked for a reason," he said. "We were in position to make plays, but they were able to use their athleticism to make things difficult for us. We moved the ball at times, but we made some mistakes that ended drives or put us in bad down and distance situations. I thought our kids played hard, but they were just a better team than us this year."

Pierce focused on the positives that this Wildcat team accomplished for the 2015 season. "This group got us back to where we need to be. We had a winning record, made the playoffs, and competed in games. We beat our rival Grayson County and brought the Tobacco Stick back to Brownsville and hopefully it stays here for a while. We were a very young bunch this year, and some got thrown in a little early, but they got a lot of experience for upcoming years."

As the team moves forward, they'll do it without seven seniors, who Pierce has repeatedly praised throughout the year. "I am proud of this senior class. They were an unselfish bunch. Whatever was asked of them, they did. They wanted to win. They wanted to go out with a winning record and get us back on the right road. They left this place in better shape than it was."

The Wildcats finish the season with a winning record of 6-5, and although the success of sports teams is measured in trophies, championship rings, and lengths of seasons, Pierce eluded to more.

"We always talk about how you will be remembered," he said. "There are always moments you would love to have back, but in the end, you will be remembered in a negative or positive light. These guys wanted to be good teammates and treat people right. That means a lot."

The Edmonson Voice salutes the 2015 ECHS Football team, Coach Pierce and his staff, the players, supporters, and our Wildcats Live broadcast team of Scott Lindsey and Bryan Thompson. Thanks for a great season and we look forward to more.

We catch up with ECHS Football (it's playoff time!), Cross Country, and ECMS Basketball this week and speak with Coach Kyle Pierce and Coach Tyra Ballance. Also, the Senior Spotlight shines on Tyler Hayes and Jacob Peger...give it a listen!

By Robert Vincent          
There are certain tunes that are stuck in sports fans’ heads. The Monday Night Football theme. SportsCenter. The list goes on. One of my favorites is CBS’s College Basketball theme.

Now, in November, while football is in full force and baseball has just bowed out (congrats to Royals fans), college basketball is starting. In Kentucky, that everything pretty much stops.

The AP Poll and Coaches poll pretty much looks identical up top. You got UNC and UK taking the top spots (tied in Coaches poll and the Tar Heels taking #1 in AP, because the press hates UK). Maryland is #3 in both and Kansas and Duke flip flop #4 and #5.

But is this how it will play out in March and April?

We know that UNC’s Marcus Page broke his hand and that will take a hit for the Heels. While Duke was playing in a meaningless exhibition, F Amile Jefferson hurt his wittle-bitty ankle. Will this hurt them in March? Probably not. The ACC will be decided between Duke, UNC and Maryland.

The SEC is a shadow of what they used to be. Florida no longer has Donovan. Tennessee is not what they were with Pearl. They will be lucky to have four teams in the NCAA tourney.

UK is young, but talented. Louisville is in a muck of trouble with extracurricular activities that you wouldn’t brag about at church.

In all honesty, it’s wide open. My Final Four picks (albeit five months early) are UNC, Kentucky, Kansas and Duke. Yeah, this is pretty much a chalk pick. The Championship? Kansas over Duke.

Speaking of college basketball…

NUMBER 17
Before 1978, if you watched college basketball in the state of North Carolina, you probably rooted for a light shade of blue. However, in 1978, something big started. A little school (then) known as Duke made it all the way to the NCAA Championship for just the second time in their existence and was beaten by Kentucky.

From that moment on, Duke began on the road to what I consider to be the 17th Greatest Sports Dynasty. It started with that 1978 Championship appearance, and took off in 1980 when the school hired Mike Krzyzewski (who from this point on will be referred to as Coach K, because, well, you try typing that name more than once.). In 1984, Coach K began a remarkable run where his Blue Devils went to every…single…NCAA tourney except for one…1995.

He gave them 23 Sweet 16 appearances. 15 Elite Eights. 12 Final fours.

His Five rings are tied with their cross-the-street rivals, North Carolina, and Indiana for third all time. He got them 26 All-Americans, 23 NBA first round picks, and 1018 career wins. During his tenure, Duke has been ranked #1 for a total 235 weeks.

This, along with names such as Grant Hill, Elton Brand, J.J. Redick, Jason Williams and more (yes, there is a name that I REFUSE to type. I can honor the fact that Duke is an all-time great, but I will not repeat the name of the guy who steps on people, doesn’t get fouled out and hits a luck 3-pointer to win a game that he should have been tossed out of) make them the Seventeenth greatest sports dynasty.

BITS AND PIECES
It seems Peyton Manning doesn’t have to be Peyton Manning to get the Broncos to 7-0. There are a few teams in the NFL that are having fire-sales…one of which is the 49ers. And I think LSU beats Alabama to move up the rankings.
​
Until next week: Marv Harshman, former coach of the Washington Huskies basketball team once said about size vs. speed, “Quick guys get tired. Big guys don’t shrink.”

Edmonson Voice Sports
Edmonson County High School Senior Austin Sasse will be competing the State Cross Country Meet this Saturday, November 7th at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The meet will be a 5K race, which is 3.2 miles. 

Austin has participated in competitive running since he was a 5th grader. Unfortunately, this is the first time in his high school career that the entire team did not qualify for the meet. Individuals that are not on qualifying teams can still qualify, as long as they finish in the top 5 in the region. Austin finished 2nd overall. 

"It'll be the first time he's run alone," said Edmonson County Elementary Cross Country Coach Kathy Sasse. "It's a tough course and he just wants to make his team, his county, and coach Brad (Meredith) proud. Coach Brad has been good to him," she said. 

Good luck to Austin on Saturday, and thank you for representing Edmonson County well.

Edmonson Voice Sports
The Edmonson County Elementary Cross Country Team ran in the Kids Only Run at Bowling Green Ballpark this past Sunday as they celebrated their season's end. 

Head Coach Kathy Sasse said the team is made up of all ages from kindergarten to students at the 5/6 center. There are also members from SEES and Kyrock that make up the team as well. 

The kids compete in runs from August until November at different locations. The team ran in a total of eight races this year, all being 2K runs except for one, which was a 3K. 

At the completion of the Bowling Green run, the team achieved the status of marathon runners, being as they ran a total of 26 miles during the season. 

Coach Sasse said the kids had lots of fun this year and she enjoyed seeing the kids do well. She said there was one kindergarten student who ran every race. After the Bowling Green race, the team celebrated by enjoying pizza and chocolate milk.

Edmonson Voice Sports
The Edmonson County Wildcat football team will begin the Class AAA State Playoffs with a 6-4 record after falling to Barren County this past Friday night in Glasgow. After falling behind 14-0 early in the first quarter, the Wildcats forced a bad snap in the second quarter that gave them a safety to cut the lead to 14-2 before halftime. The third quarter wasn’t much better for the Wildcats as the Trojans tacked on another score. The Wildcats were behind 21-2 entering the fourth quarter. However the Wildcats lit up the scoreboard in just a few minutes span, scoring three touchdowns and taking the lead at 24-21.
 
The first touchdown came as the Wildcats were down 21-2 and facing a 4th and goal at the Trojans 7-yard line. Sophomore quarterback Tucker Cole scrambled around right end and ran it in for the touchdown. The Wildcats scored the two point conversion when Cole found sophomore running back Zack Farmer in the end zone.

The Wildcats then used an onside kick and senior Tyler Hayes recovered the ball near midfield. Cole found Farmer on a bubble screen for 31 yards and then two plays later Cole found sophomore Logan Lindsey on a slant for a 14-yard touchdown pass. The two point conversion attempt failed to keep the score at 21-16.

The Wildcat defense then came up with a big takeaway three plays later as junior linebacker Dylan Waldrop jumped on a Trojan fumble that gave the Wildcat offense the ball around midfield. Cole hit Lindsey on another slant for 17 yards, sophomore running back Brayden Carey broke a run to the 15 yard line to set up the Wildcats last touchdown, a 15-yard run by Cole to give the Wildcats a 22-21 lead. The Wildcats again went for two and were successful as Cole hit Farmer again on a bubble screen to give the Wildcats a 24-21 lead.

The Trojan offense then took its next series and drove the ball down the field before scoring a touchdown on a quarterback sneak. The extra point missed to keep the score at 27-24.

The Wildcat offense could not get moving on its next drive and was forced to punt. The Trojans then ran off all but four seconds left in the game. A long deep pass downfield by the Wildcats fell incomplete to seal the victory for the Trojans.
 
ECHS head football coach Kyle Pierce said he was glad his players kept fighting even though the game looked much in doubt. “When we end the third quarter, we are down 21-2, Daniel Caudill gets hurt on the last play of the third quarter, and they have all the momentum. But, our kids are resilient. They kept playing hard and they were rewarded for their efforts. Once we scored and got the onside kick, the momentum was with us and our guys fed off each other’s energy. It was about the best 5 minute stretch I’ve ever been a part of. In the end, their offensive line and running backs were a bit too much for us. They were able to move the ball at the end and kept us from getting the ball back with enough time to move the ball offensively. We had our chances early in the game. We got inside their 10-yard line twice but came up empty. Barren County has about 20 seniors and they have the edge there. But I thought our kids competed well and for the most part, kept our composure when things started getting out of hand. I was proud of our effort and the never say die attitude we showed.”
 
The Wildcats will now travel to highly ranked Paducah Tilghman in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs. Pierce says the Blue Tornado will present the toughest challenge this year.

"Anytime you play a team like Tilghman, you are going to see speed," he said. "They have plenty of guys that can run. But, they also have a pretty good line to go with it. They are well coached and are disciplined. It’s a long bus ride there, so our kids will have to be ready to play. We will approach this week like any other week. It’s a football game and anytime you play football, it comes down to four things: Blocking, Tackling, Turnovers, and the Big Play. If we do those well, we win. If we don’t, we won’t. I know our kids are excited about competing against one of the top teams in the state and will do their best to upset them.”
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 CST at Paducah Tilghman High School. You can listen to the game live here on EdmonsonVoice.com on Wildcats Live with Scott and Bryan beginning with the pre-game show at 6:40pm. Follow our Sports Account on Twitter @WildcatsLive.