Lady Cats End Season 21-8 Overall: Lose In District 12 Tournament 44-41

Edmonson County junior guard Jenna Cook (3) looks to finish a layup against Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

Joseph Barkoff, story and photos:
​It was their third meeting, third contest, third battle in less than 30 days when Edmonson County Lady Cat basketball traveled to host Grayson County High School to face District 12 rival Butler County Lady Bears in the first round of the Kentucky High School State Athletic Association Girls District 12 Tournament February 26th in Leitchfield.
 
The rubber match for the season. Butler County won their first meeting, Edmonson the second. Both games were decided by a 3 point margin. 
 
Now, the winner moves on to the District Tournament Finals and ultimately the Regional Tournament. Loser goes home, their season over.
 
In the first of two meetings on January 29, the Lady Bears(17-13, 4-4 in district play) were victorious 39-36 against the visiting Lady Cats.
 
The second meeting, on Feb. 9 Edmonson County Lady Cats(21-8, 4-3 in district play) defeated the Lady Bears 43-40 at home.
 
Despite a sea of red in the stands from Edmonson County fans to cheer, the Lady Cats fell to the Lady Bears by another 3-point margin for a second time and the third decided by the same sum. 
 
The final score was 44-41.
 
The game can be viewed on the Edmonson Voice Facebook page and on their YouTube Channel.

Edmonson County freshman guard Shelby Sowders (50) shoots a 3-pointer against Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

Edmonson County junior forward Julie Norris (21) shoots a 3-pointer against Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

Edmonson County sophomore center Cariann Williams (30) is swarmed by Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

​“I told them in the locker room, if they had to play a seven-game series, it would go to seven games,” said Edmonson County head coach Jody Booth after the game. “That’s how close we were. They had an injury, we had an injury. We had kids that can do things, they had kids that can do things. Lexie’s [Belcher] a good coach. They had a good game plan, and I think we had a good game plan.”
 
Both teams came out aggressive on defense and it took almost a minute before the first score of the game. 
 
The series of events began when sophomore center Cariann Williams ripped the ball out of an opponent’s hands to start a fast break to junior guard Jenna Cook.
 
After Cook flew up the court, the ball was passed around once and when it ended back in the hands of Williams she made a move from the top of the key with one dribble into four collapsing defenders and banked in a left-hander for a bucket.
 
“It went back and forth and that’s all you can ask for, especially this time of year,” Booth said. “That’s tournament time and that’s a District game. It’s part of it,” 
 
There were six lead changes in the first quarter and Lady Bears were in the lead 16-10 against the Lady Cats.
 
The Lady Bears lead by as much as 10 points before Lady Cat freshman point guard Shelby Sowders sank a 3-pointer to put the Lady Cats deficit back in single digits.
 
The next offensive possession, Lady Cat junior forward Julie Norris also sank a 3-pointer from the right corner, battling back against the Lady Bear lead.
 
After the first half the score was in favor of Butler County 25 to Edmonson County’s 21.
 
In the second half of the game the Lady Cats would battle back and take the lead but lose it again and fall to the Lady Bears by 3 points, for a second time.

Edmonson County freshman guard Shelby Sowders (50) pulls up in traffic for a jumper against Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

Edmonson County junior guard Jenna Cook (3) finishes a fast break against Butler County in the District 12 Tournament Monday February 26 in Leitchfield.

According to the unofficial stats curated by Edmonson Voice Darren Doyle both teams shot 39 percent from the field on the evening.
 
Cook had 11 points with 7 rebounds, both Sowders and Norris had 10 points each with 6 and 3 rebounds, respectively. Williams had 8 points, 9 rebounds and a handful of each blocks and steals.
 
One key in the loss was Butler County’s 8-11 from the free throw line versus Edmonson County 4-8.
 
While there were only 12 turnovers by Edmonson to Butler’s 14. Butler made Edmonson pay for theirs more it seemed, noted Doyle in the post game.

​​“Sometimes you win ‘em, sometimes you lose em, but at the end of the day our girls played hard,” Booth said. “There’s nothing negative I can say about them and we had doubters all year long. And we won 21 games. That’s something to be proud of with just one returning starter.”
 
Edmonson County doesn't often have 20-game winning seasons, in any sport, which is a notable achievement for Booth's first year as head coach.
 
“A lot of offensive production graduated but those girls just stuck with it, came to work every day and we got better.”
 
Indeed.
 
Though the Lady Cats’ season ends not on the note they would have liked, 21-8 overall on the season, 9-4 in Region 3 and 4-3 in District 12 play is nothing at which to scoff.
 
With only one senior graduating this year, next year will have four new seniors from juniors, and two sophomores into juniors and three freshman into sophomores.
 
What does it mean?
 
It means next year they will no longer be considered a young and inexperienced team with a lot of good moments from the previous year to look back and learn from, and even enjoy.
 
“I texted the girls the other night and told them my favorite moment was watching them smile,” Booth said. “Every time that we won or something good happened, and seeing their smiles, it makes it worth it. That’s a whole lot better than wins and losses.”
 
There are more smiles to come. For sure. Probably a few wins too.