Lady Cats Fall Short In Regional Tournament; End Season With Respectable 19-9 Record

Edmonson County Lady Cats junior power forward Cariann Williams (30) looks to put up a shot against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

​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.

Edmonson County Lady Cats senior shooting guard Kennadi Swihart (12) fights for a rebound against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

Edmonson County Lady Cats senior shooting guard Jenna Cook (3) moves the ball up court against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

Edmonson County Lady Cats senior power forward Julie Norris (21) shoots a 3-pointer against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

​“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.”

Edmonson County Lady Cats sophomore point guard Shelby Sowders (50) moves the ball up court against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

Edmonson County Lady Cats junior power forward Cariann Williams (30) finishes a fast break against Daviess County Lady Panthers in the KHSAA 3rd Region Tournament at the Owensboro Sports Center Tuesday March 4 in Owensboro.

​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.