ECMS Lady Cats Back In Action

Barren County vs. Edmonson County Dec 1, 2014

The Edmonson County Lady Cats returned to action on December 1st, hosting the Lady Trojans from Barren County. For the 7th grade, the Lady Trojans were looking to avenge their earlier loss in the season to ECMS, as they came out running and red hot. Barren County went into the locker room at half time holding the largest deficit that ECMS had seen all year. Coach Tom Vincent’s Lady Cats came within 3 points, but never could overcome their 1st half turnovers as Barren County held on for a 29-25 win. Lauren Ballance led the Lady Cats with 12 points and 4 rebounds.

Coach Tyra Ballance was hoping to see some improvement over their last game against Barren County. The Lady Cats got out to a good start, going basket for basket with Barren County, and only trailing by 1 at halftime 15-14. But Barren County came out strong in the 3rd and and began to put space between themselves and The Lady Cats with a 27-22 lead at the end of the 3rd.  It continued in the 4th, and ECMS couldn’t overcome the deficit as Barren County came out with the win 35-27. Hannah Meredith led all scorers with 14 points and Lauren Ballance added 9.

Edmonson County at Drakes Creek Dec 2, 2014

ECMS got right back to it on the next night, making the trip to Bowling Green to play Drakes Creek Middle School in a 7th/8th grade double header. Looking to bounce back after a subpar performance against Barren County, both 7th and 8th grade came ready to play. Coach Tom Vincent’s 7th grade Lady Cats struggled in the last couple of games, and this one turned out to be more of the same. Seven turnovers in the first half and Eleven more in the 2nd half spelled TROUBLE as the 7th grade lost their 2nd straight game, 29-24. Coach Tom Vincent said that he was looking forward to getting back to practice on Wednesday, and hopefully could get the kinks worked out as they prepared to move forward.

The 8th grade Lady Cats came out swinging and doing it at pace-- just a step faster than Drakes Creek might have wanted. Going back and forth most of the game, it seemed the hard work the Lady Cats put in before the season started with their conditioning program may have been the key factor in the outcome of this game, as The Lady Cats simply wore down the Lady Gators on top of great team play, and  never stopping on either end, and ECMS won 38-26. Lauren Ballance led the way with 13 points, followed by Chanley Logsdon with 10, and Hannah Meredith with 9.

Green River Valley Conference Tournament Dec 6, 2014 @ Butler Co

ECMS traveled to Morgantown down Hwy 70 early Saturday morning to take their talents to Butler County High School, as play began in the GRVC Tournament. The 8th grade played first, entering the tournament as the #2 Seed in the South, playing Ohio County, the #3 seed from the North, a team ECMS had beaten once already earlier in the season. Regardless of the tournament seeds, Ohio and Edmonson Counties seem to have some of the best basketball games against each other, and this one would not disappoint. From the tip of the ball, to the final second of the game this one went down to the wire. The action was fast and back and forth, like a couple of championship boxers exchanging heavy punches. It was back and forth, and at the end of the 1st the score was 6-5 Ohio County, at the half it was 12-11 Edmonson County,  and at the end of the 3rd quarter it was tied up, 18-18. Chanley Logsdon hit a big 3 in the 4th quarter, and both Lauren Ballance and Madison McCombs came up with some big rebounds to help ECMS as they hung on to put Ohio County down 24-21. Chanley Logsdon finished with 8 points, and Madison McCombs and Lauren Ballance both finished the game with 6 points each.

Coach Tyra Ballance goes over instruction vs. Ohio County. (S. McCombs)

Hannah Meredith attempts a free throw against Ohio County. (S. McCombs)

The 7th grade Lady Cats entered the tournament as the #1 seed in the South, and had to play #4 seed from the North, host Butler County. Coming into this tournament on 2 game losing streak, it would have been easy for this young group of Lady Cats to be down and out, but that wasn’t the case. ECMS came out and looked like the #1 seeded team, knocking down shot after shot and making a defensive stop on the first 6 times that Butler County touched the ball. Nine different players scored in this game for ECMS, as they cruised on to the next round in high fashion, beating Butler County 36-16.

The 7th grade will be back in tournament action tonight,  December 8th,  5:30 pm at Butler County Middle School, playing either McLean or Hancock counties. The 8th grade returns to action Tuesday, December 9th, 6:45 at Butler County Middle School.

Shawn McCombs,
Story and Photos